The US Department of Agriculture stops testing on cats after the outcry; alleged human rights group cannibalism forced and euthanasia

Washington: The US Department of Agriculture announced on Tuesday that it would not use more cats in research that, according to a surveillance group, would involve "cannibalism" forced and would result in the slaughter of more than 3,000 animals since 1982.

For more than three decades, scientists at a laboratory in Beltsville, near the capital Washington, have been feeding cat and cat meat probably contaminated with the toxoplasma gondii parasite, according to the White Coat Waste Project (WCW).

Image of representation. Reuters

The researchers then tested the stools of cats to confirm the presence of Toxoplasma in the meat. After three weeks, they euthanized the cats, even though they were healthy.

At least 3,000 cats and kittens have been used since 1982, according to the WCW, which unveiled "The Kitten Slaughterhouse" in 2018.

For a decade – ending in 2015 – the department has also purchased hundreds of dead cats and dogs in China, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Colombia and other countries to feed their cats and d & # 39; other animals, announced the group.

As a result of the WCW 2018 investigation, lawmakers introduced legislation to terminate the project.

Under pressure, the USDA said that "the use of cats as part of any research protocol in any laboratory ARS (Agricultural Research Service) has been halted and will not be reinstated."

"It's a major win for kittens, cats and taxpayers," said Nevada MP Dina Titus.

The remaining 14 cats will be adopted by department officials, who noted that research has helped halve the rate of people infected with the parasite, which is dangerous for pregnant women and can be fatal.

"We are absolutely delighted that kittens are safe from harm," said Justin Goodman, vice president of the Waste Coat Waste Project, which aims to protect the thousands of cats and dogs used in private and public laboratories. University of the United States.

The group had already successfully conducted a campaign to prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs from conducting research on puppies and dogs.

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