Animal activist group demands Johns Hopkins pay fine

[Michael Oberdorfer]

The Baltimore Sun reports that the animal activist group Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN,) has filed a complaint with the USDA regarding experiments on dogs which involved spinal cord stimulation as a model for the treatment of gastroparesis. Nine of the animals experienced complications during the study and had to be euthanized. The complaint asks that Hopkins be fined the maximum amount, $10,000, for each animal.

The incident had been fully reported by Hopkins to the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare. Kim Hoppe, a spokeswoman for Hopkins, said in a statement that officials were “deeply disappointed” by the events and have taken steps to prevent anything similar from happening. She confirmed the study was terminated and said the other dogs involved were adopted out.

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