Two dogs released from animal laboratory
- Press release
Campaign success in Düsseldorf
Doctors Against Animal Experiments (DAAE) is delighted that two dogs that were no longer used in animal experiments at the Düsseldorf Heinrich Heine University (HHU) have been released. At the same time, the skocking figure of over 81,000 animals killed in animal experiments at the HHU in 2023 has come to light.
In 2018, HHU ended its dog experiments, which were primarily conducted in the field of dentistry. 24 Beagles and Foxhounds survived the experiments. The animals were subsequently kept exclusively indoors with access to a rooftop run, in an environment devoid of stimuli and contrary to the natural needs of dogs. Six years later, only four dogs were still alive. Some had died, while the whereabouts of others remain unclear.
When these violations became known in 2023, numerous campaigns and protests began. In fact, Doctors Against Animal Experiments and local campaigners were able to convince the persons responsible for the animal laboratory to allow the Düsseldorf animal shelter to find suitable homes for two of the four dogs.
For a long time, the HHU defended the keeping of the dogs, arguing that their housing conditions were good and in the best interest of the animals. It was claimed that rehoming them into private care after such a long time would be irresponsible. However, despite the fact that the two female dogs were 10 years old and had lived in the laboratory since birth, their adjustment to their new home was uncomplicated. On November 6, the dogs were finally able to leave the lab and moved directly into their new family together, which they met open-mindedly and curiously.
"This gives hope that the process for releasing the last two dogs, as well as other animals that survive animal experiments, will now proceed more smoothly in Düsseldorf," said Eva Nimtschek from Doctors Against Animal Experiments, who had followed the months-long process.
Although there is great joy over this first positive step, DAAE also highlights the ongoing demands of the campaign: The goal is to transition to exclusively animal-free research and teaching at the University of Düsseldorf and to establish a professorship for animal-free technologies. Animal experimentation is no longer the gold standard, as students are still being taught. In fact, it is the new, modern, animal-free methods that have been proven to yield meaningful insights into human diseases and therapy developments.
Doctors Against Animal Experiments also calls on the HHU to ensure transparency regarding the number of animals used. To this day, the number of so-called 'surplus animals' remains undisclosed. These are animals that, for example, are not used in experiments due to their age or because they are the 'wrong' sex, and are subsequently killed. Based on its own research, Doctors Against Animal Experiments has identified the alarming figure of over 81,000 animals in total. This number includes animals used in 2023 in the following categories: animals subjected to experiments (most of which are lethal), animals killed for scientific purposes such as organ removal, and 'surplus animals'.
The financial resources allocated to animal experiemnts are also not disclosed, which the association DAAE sharply criticizes, especially since the majority of these funds come from public taxpayer money.
"Our protests and information campaigns in the city of Düsseldorf and on the university campus will therefore continue, and we will keep seeking dialogue — for the animals and for a meaningful, human-relevant science," concluded Nimtschek.