WASHINGTON—Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund, are endorsing a new bill introduced in Congress today: the Companion Animal Protection Against Cruel Testing (COMPACT) Act. This legislation, sponsored by Reps. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.) and Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), would prohibit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, from funding research using live dogs and cats.
Dogs and cats have long been used in harmful, distressing experiments. The issue has gained greater public visibility through cases such as Humane World for Animals' historic rescue of over 4,000 beagles from Envigo in 2022.
Sara Amundson, president of Humane World Action Fund, said:
“The beagles rescued from Envigo in Virginia and, more recently, from Ridglan in Wisconsin, are the lucky ones. This humane measure from Reps. Langworthy and Pocan will give a new leash on life to dogs and cats used in experiments at federally funded facilities by providing a chance for adoption into loving American homes. Their bill would also close out the era of taxpayer funding for research and testing on animals like cats and dogs who share our homes and our hearts and who Americans do not want subjected to experiments at taxpayers’ expense. The COMPACT Act would help the federal government to usher in a new era of animal-free science that better serves the goals of biomedical science and human health, and we call on Congress to move the bill swiftly.”
Kitty Block, president and CEO of Humane World for Animals, said:
“We know what is at stake for these animals because we have witnessed it up close. From exposing the harsh realities of life inside laboratories to helping more than 4,000 beagles from Envigo escape the research pipeline and find loving homes, we have seen both the suffering these animals endure and the better future they deserve. Every dog and cat should have that chance. At the same time, we are advancing cutting-edge, human-relevant scientific methods that are more effective than animal testing. The COMPACT Act reflects the progress we have championed for decades and helps accelerate the transition to a more innovative future.”
The bill builds on the longstanding work of Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund with Congress and federal agencies to reduce and ultimately replace the use of animals in research and testing, including:
- Securing congressional support for greater investment in non-animal methods.
- Stronger scrutiny of the use of animals in federally funded research.
- Encouraging policies and initiatives that prioritize human-based approaches at the National Institutes of Health and other agencies.
The COMPACT Act represents another step toward that goal by addressing federal funding for research involving dogs and cats.
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Download photos/video of rescued dogs from an animal testing facility.
