'Worst' animal cruelty case at UCSF, says federal complaint
California Desk
May 06, 2009
Citing 'worst' ever case of animal cruelty at UCSF, research watchdog files federal complaint; Even vet wanted to stop abuse of 'Amadeus'.
San Francisco, CA - The University of California, San Francisco is the subject again of a federal complaint because of veterinary negligence and inadequate animal care - animal cruelty, according to SAEN, a national research watchdog organization.
Internal UCSF records, according to SAEN, reveal that a macaque monkey named Amadeus was forced to endure terrible suffering when a researcher refused to euthanize him despite the recommendation of a UCSF veterinarian that Amadeus be euthanized.
In internal communications just four days apart, a UCSF veterinarian urgently requests that Amadeus be put out of his misery:
"[Amadeus] is not responding well to our chemical, social, or environmental interventions. He was obsessively self-mutilating this morning...I believe we're actually worsening his condition with the increased attention but am bound by the severity of his lesions...I'm sorry to ask this, but is there any chance this animal can be surgically manipulated, as previously intended, in the near future or re-assigned to an acute study?"
Four days later: "[Amadeus} isn't responding to the presence of females. He has a new less severe, lesion (or two) this morning...I think we need to give euthanasia serious consideration," wrote the UCSF vet.
Amadeus had received nine injections of a neurotoxin that was destroying the functioning of his brain and his ability to move. Throughout a period of eight months Amadeus continued to attack his own body, requiring excessive numbers of treatments for self-inflicted injuries.
"This is clearly the worst case of cruelty and indifference to animal suffering that I have ever seen," said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN. "The UCSF researcher responsible for this travesty should be seriously penalized by the federal government."
San Francisco, CA - The University of California, San Francisco is the subject again of a federal complaint because of veterinary negligence and inadequate animal care - animal cruelty, according to SAEN, a national research watchdog organization.
Internal UCSF records, according to SAEN, reveal that a macaque monkey named Amadeus was forced to endure terrible suffering when a researcher refused to euthanize him despite the recommendation of a UCSF veterinarian that Amadeus be euthanized.
In internal communications just four days apart, a UCSF veterinarian urgently requests that Amadeus be put out of his misery:
"[Amadeus] is not responding well to our chemical, social, or environmental interventions. He was obsessively self-mutilating this morning...I believe we're actually worsening his condition with the increased attention but am bound by the severity of his lesions...I'm sorry to ask this, but is there any chance this animal can be surgically manipulated, as previously intended, in the near future or re-assigned to an acute study?"
Four days later: "[Amadeus} isn't responding to the presence of females. He has a new less severe, lesion (or two) this morning...I think we need to give euthanasia serious consideration," wrote the UCSF vet.
Amadeus had received nine injections of a neurotoxin that was destroying the functioning of his brain and his ability to move. Throughout a period of eight months Amadeus continued to attack his own body, requiring excessive numbers of treatments for self-inflicted injuries.
"This is clearly the worst case of cruelty and indifference to animal suffering that I have ever seen," said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN. "The UCSF researcher responsible for this travesty should be seriously penalized by the federal government."
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