University of Oklahoma fined for animal testing violations

NORMAN, Okla. (ow.AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has fined the University of Oklahoma more than $19,000 for Animal Welfare Act violations related to animal testing.

A recently released document by the USDA says the university is being cited for failure to follow research protocols, failure to administer pain relief to animals in connection to surgical procedures and inadequate veterinary care.

Eleven incidents in 2014 and 2015 were listed during the USDA evaluation. Some of the incidents involved guinea pigs that bled to death, several rabbits that underwent procedures without the proper administration of approved pain reliever buprenorphine and the hosing down of baby baboons.

Dr. James Tomasek of the university’s health sciences center has defended the department’s standards and says the university is taking additional steps to address the issue.