Senators Collins, Peters Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Connect Retired Government Laboratory Animals with Loving Homes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experimentation, and Research (AFTER) Act. The bipartisan legislation would ensure that every federal agency that uses animals for research has policies in place to facilitate the relocation of retired, healthy lab animals to private homes, animal rescues, or reputable sanctuaries.

"There is no reason regulated lab animals that are suitable for adoption or retirement should be killed by federal agencies," said Senator Collins. "Our bipartisan legislation would continue to build on the successful policies at DOD, VA, FDA, and NIH while directing all other federal agencies to facilitate and encourage the retirement of animals to help ensure they are placed in loving homes or sanctuaries."

"Retiring lab animals deserve the chance to live the rest of their lives in loving homes," said Senator Peters. "This bill would encourage federal agencies to collaborate with shelters, rescue organizations, and sanctuaries to help provide these animals with safe and caring environments."

The AFTER Act directs federal agencies to develop regulations that would facilitate the retirement of lab animals. DOD, VA, FDA, and NIH already have these rules in place. The bill also provides flexibility for each agency to devise its own policy, with the goal of ensuring that such animals, whenever possible, are retired rather than killed. The legislation also requires that animals be evaluated by a licensed veterinarian and pronounced both mentally and physically healthy before leaving an agency, helping to ensure a smooth transition to a new environment. Finally, the bill encourages federal agencies to work with nonprofit organizations to help place retired animals in sanctuaries and shelters across the country, not just those closest to the research facility.

This legislation has been endorsed by Maine Humane, the Humane World Action Fund, White Coat Waste, and the Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary.

"Our goal is to end pet homelessness and animal cruelty through breaking down barriers, and providing information, outreach, and advocacy. As animal welfare leaders across the state of Maine, we share Senator Collins' concerns about what happens to animals both during and after testing. Maine Humane would like to thank Senator Collins for introducing this important bill, and for her long-standing support of animal welfare in Maine and across the nation," said the directors and staff of Maine Humane, an organization promoting the adoption of homeless animals and preserving the human-animal bond.

"Approximately 50,000 dogs alone are used in research and testing each year, so the AFTER Act comes at a critical time for lab animals. With key agencies across the federal government focused on shifting the paradigm to non-animal research methods to reduce, and eventually end testing on animals, this bill ensures today's lab animals have a chance at a forever home or safe sanctuary. This new lease on life is well-deserved," said Sara Amundson, President of Humane World Action Fund (formerly called Humane Society Legislative Fund).

"Senator Collins and Peters' bipartisan AFTER Act to retire lab survivors is more important than ever given the tremendous progress White Coat Waste making to cut wasteful government spending on animal testing. The AFTER Act-also known as Violet's Law-helps ensure that government lab survivors are retired and released to loving homes, not senselessly killed, when our campaigns expose and close labs. White Coat Waste secured the rescue of dozens of cats, dogs, and primates from federal labs we shut down and got federal agencies including the NIH, FDA, VA and DOD to enact the first-ever lab animal retirement policies. Taxpayers bought these animals and the AFTER Act will ensure Uncle Sam gives them back," said Justin Goodman, Senior Vice President at animal testing watchdog White Coat Waste.

"As the nation's largest and most successful sanctuary for research animals-having successfully placed thousands of cats, dogs, and other animals into loving homes-we applaud Senators Susan Collins and Gary Peters for introducing the bipartisan AFTER Act to make lab animal retirement a standard policy in all government labs. We are proof that it can be done and eagerly stand ready to assist in the process," said John Ramer, Executive Director at the nonprofit Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary.

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