Pet lovers in Congress are expressing outrage following a recent revelation that the Pentagon is purportedly financing distressing experimental drug trials on beagles in a bid to secure FDA approval for a pharmaceutical product.
A comprehensive investigation by the White Coat Waste Project (WCW) has unveiled that the Department of Defense has allocated nearly $1 million towards these trials, scheduled to continue until July. The experiments involve subjecting the dogs to high doses of an experimental drug aimed at treating Lou Gehrig’s Disease, administered through force-feeding.
Responding to inquiries from Fox News Digital, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., a founding member of the Congressional Dog Caucus, voiced strong condemnation of the report. She emphasized that taxpayer funds should be directed towards fostering innovation, not perpetuating animal cruelty.
Mace recalled previous successful efforts, alongside fellow lawmakers, in pressuring then-NIAID chief Dr. Anthony Fauci to halt analogous painful drug experiments involving puppies. She stressed the importance of seeking alternative testing methods, asserting, “It’s time to put an end to these cruel practices.”
In advocating for change, Mace highlighted the introduction of the Preventing Animal Abuse and Waste Act (PAAW Act), aimed at amending the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the NIH director from supporting research causing significant pain or distress to dogs or cats.
Joining the chorus of disapproval, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., a prominent Democratic co-founder of the canine caucus, expressed dismay at the targeting of beagles for experimentation. Drawing from personal encounters with rescued beagles, he denounced the use of taxpayer funds for what he deemed “unnecessary and harmful experiments.”
Justin Goodman, senior vice president of WCW, condemned the Pentagon’s funding of the trials, citing a lack of federal mandate for testing experimental drugs on dogs. He criticized the entrenched nature of wasteful animal testing within bureaucratic systems and underscored efforts to curtail such practices.
According to WCW’s investigation, the Army spearheaded the experiment, which typically results in the abuse and subsequent euthanization of numerous puppies. The project, initiated in 2023, is slated to continue until July 31, according to Goodman.
While the Pentagon did not formally respond to requests for comment at the time of reporting, Spinogenix – the company listed as the grant recipient in documents obtained by WCW – remained unresponsive to inquiries.
Fox News Digital also sought additional comments from key members of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus from both parties but received no response.
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