Two for animals
by Patrick O'Neill
Kelly, who made stops in Atlanta and Charlotte as well as Raleigh, says PETA is calling for a halt to March of Dimes animal testing for two reasons: first, because the tests are "horribly cruel and painful to the animals involved"; and second, because animal tests hurt babies by "diverting funds from desperately needed prenatal education" and other more effective uses for research dollars.
March of dimes spokeswoman Emily Baker doesn't dispute PETA's claims. "The March of Dimes does support the use of medical research to investigate the cause and prevention of birth defects and infant mortality," Baker said. "This does involve, when necessary, the use of animals."
Baker said the group insists that such research comply with the highest ethical standards to protect the health and welfare of animal subjects, and that the group has long supported the use of alternatives to animal research whenever possible.
Baker said she is not qualified to answer questions about current March of Dimes-funded animal research, something Kelly said PETA would like to know more about. Kelly didn't know of any March of Dimes-funded animal experimentation being conducted in the Triangle, but he hopes the campaign will result in local donors calling on the March of Dimes to halt animal research.
Baker was unimpressed with PETA's protest. "It was not a demonstration," she said, "it was two people." March of Dimes doesn't plan to make any changes in response to the PETA campaign. "We respect the right of other people's opinions to differ [from those of] the March of Dimes," she said.
--patrick o'neill
- To create paragraphs in your comment, type <p> at the start of a paragraph and </p> at the end of each paragraph.
- To create bold text, type <b>bolded text</b> (please note the closing tag, </b>).
- To create italicized text, type <i>italicized text</i> (please note the closing tag, </i>).
- Proper web addresses will automatically become links.
Latest in Front Porch
-
Clear for departure
My father is 83 now, and his health is declining. In mid-April, my brother called: "You need to get up here now."
- May 22, 2013
-
Being the community
In Raleigh's Moore Square and around Main Street in Durham, we ignore people who we assume don't have housing. Rocky and those like him go to Love Wins or the Maurin House to find eye contact, to hear a "good morning," to be a part of their cities.
- May 15, 2013
-
High places
Quietly, by the guidance of our flashlights, we climbed a very long, tight spiral staircase up to the top of the Duke Chapel tower. And not just the bell-tower top, but beyond that.
- May 8, 2013
- More »
