Sample letter from BUAV:
Cc:
Subject: Neurological disorders, including Batten’s disease and
Huntington’s disease
Home Office Minister Norman Baker
The Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London
A recent BUAV undercover investigation at the University of Cambridge
reveals the use of sheep for research into neurological disorders, including
Batten’s disease and Huntington’s disease. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wnyf4ggO9k
The sheep are imported from New Zealand to be used in research. This would
be a long and stressful journey for them. During the investigation, one sheep
was reported to have been euthanised at the airport in the UK because she kept
banging her head during the journey.
The sheep have a condition that mimics only some of the abnormalities seen
in people with Batten’s disease. The animals suffered greatly, in particular
experiencing eyesight loss and disorientation. As their condition worsened they
struggled to walk in a straight line and would bang their heads into stationary
objects. They experienced weight loss and strange head movements. One sheep
called Janet suffered severe weight loss and became virtually blind. She was
eventually killed because of her suffering but was inexplicably left for several
days in a pitiful state, even though it was acknowledged she would have to be
killed.
Some sheep had invasive implants inserted into their brains. The implant
caused a large head wound, which if the sheep knocked their heads could worsen.
Packs connected to the implant recorded brain activity for 24 hours.
The sheep were kept in this facility undergoing behavioural tests and
monitored as their condition deteriorated until they died or were killed.
Among the incidents which took place:
One sheep would not go into a ‘crush cage’ for weighing. A staff member
became impatient and rammed her in. The sheep’s leg became stuck and broke. The
animal had to be euthanased.
Another sheep named Jane was killed because she had a faulty implant.
One sheep called Janet suffered severe weight loss and became virtually
blind. She was eventually killed because of her suffering but was inexplicably
left for several days in a pitiful state, even though it was acknowledged she
would have to be killed.
Batten’s disease is a rare genetic disease. The main genetic mutation
causing Batten’s disease in humans is not found in sheep and the animals suffer
from a condition that mimics only some of the abnormalities seen in people with
Batten’s disease. There are also critically important distinctions including the
pathological changes found in sheep which are different to the corresponding
disease in humans. There are also structural differences between the human and
sheep form of the disease. In humans, there are abnormalities in the brainstem
and hypothalamus at the end-stage of the disease, which is not seen in the
sheep.
One of the researchers has previously been caught carrying out experiments
on mice without a Home Office licence. This had involved very loud music being
played to over 200 mice dosed with metamphetamine (speed). Some of the mice
suffered seizures and at least 19 of them died as a result of the
experiment.
The BUAV believes that not only is the deliberate infliction of such
suffering on these sheep unacceptable, but because of the important distinctions
between the condition found in sheep and the abnormalities seen in people with
batten's disease, any subsequent results cannot be safely and reliably
extrapolated to humans. Indeed, the principal purpose of the research appears to
be for Huntington’s disease, a very different condition. Extrapolation will
therefore be even more difficult.
Minister Norman Baker, I urge you to terminate the project licence for this
kind of senseless and cruel sheep research at Cambridge University!
Thank you.
Sincerely:
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