Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!1081-B St. Rt. 28 #280

Milford, OH 45150

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SAEN shocks Major Labs with National Media Expose’ --Abuse of Hamsters, Dogs, Pigs, & Monkeys revealed

Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! has uncoveredand exposed terrible cruelty inside Charles RiverLaboratories (CRL) location in Shrewsbury (MA),Bioreliance Corp. in Rockville (MD), and TuftsUniversity Vet School in Boston (MA).

The CRL location in Shrewsbury amassed 13federal violations during an18 month period rangingfrom inadequate veterinarycare, facilities, enclosures,sanitation, & environmentalenhancement to violations bythe Institutional AnimalCare & Use Committee

(IACUC). According to USDA reports dated Augustof 2008, a monkey and a dog had to be killed afterbotched surgical procedures. Other CRL facilitieshave a history of major violations including a 2008episode at a Nevada CRL facility where a heatingmalfunction literally cooked 32 primates to death.

The 7 violations amassed by Bioreliance duringonly 6 months include unqualified personnel,inadequate veterinary care, improper handling ofanimals, and violations by the IACUC. According to

USDA reports dated August of2008, living hamsters werefound in a freezer used forstorage of dead animals. Thisincident may have involved asmany as 18 animals. DuringJune of 2008, another hamster

was boiled alive by being left inside a cage that wasbeing sterilized.

During a January of 2009 inspection, TuftsVeterinary School piled up 6 federal violationsincluding burning 3 dogs with a heat lamp followingsurgical procedures and performing castrations onpigs without anesthesia.

SAEN’s investigations brought both nationaland international media attention to the abuse andcriminal negligence of these labs. Hundreds ofnationally-known media outlets, includingWashington Post, Los Angeles Times, and BostonGlobe, ran stories highlighting these shocking cases.The news of this abuse flew across the internet,appearing on over 7000 different news web pages,including The Guardian of Great Britain.

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PAIDMilford, OHPermit #447

Summer 2009

SAEN files Massive Federal Complaint against 26 U.S. Labs –United Press International runs Major News Story

On June 1, 2009, Stop Animal ExploitationNOW! filed the largest USDA complaint in thehistory of the animal rights movement.Following a year-long analysis, SAEN investigatorshave uncovered illegal duplication of animalexperimentation in 26 major U.S. laboratories whichsquander over $110 million in federal tax dollarsevery 5 years.

The 57projects examinedwere comparedover 6 differentcategories: use ofprimate species,primate restraintchairs, food orwater deprivation,

restraining bars, recording cylinders, and eye coils.Our analysis demonstrated that these projectsaveraged 5.4 out of 6 of the relevant categories.This high level of consistency in the 6 key areasclearly demonstrates duplication and redundancy.

In a letter addressed to Tom Vilsack (Secretaryof Agriculture), Dr. Robert Gibbens, and Dr.Elizabeth Goldentyre (Directors of the USDA’sWestern and Eastern Regions of Animal CareDivision), SAEN’s Executive Director, Michael A.Budkie, proclaimed:

“It is quite clear that a high level of redundancy exists

in these experiments. They use the same species of

animals, investigate the same processes in the brain,

use the same procedures, and are funded by the same

part of the National Institutes of Health.”

The Animal Welfare Act, which regulates theuse of animals in experimentation, containsprovisions designed to prevent the performance of

unnecessarily duplicativeexperiments. Researchers arerequired by law to file assurancesthat their experiments are notunnecessarily duplicative.However, it is obvious fromSAEN’s investigation that manyof these 57 researchers have filedfraudulent statements.

United Press International (UPI)immediately ran a major story on this ground-breaking SAEN complaint. The UPI story has nowbeen featured on over 9,000 news web pages,including those of USA Today, The Guardian(Great Britain), TimesoftheInternet, etc., literallyreaching millions of people with the reality of waste,redundancy, and cruelty in U.S. laboratories.

The ultimate success of SAEN’s landmarkcomplaint could mean the end of many highlyduplicative experiments. This complaint could freehundreds of rhesus monkeys from laboratory cageswhile saving U.S. taxpayers tens of millions inwasted federal funding every year. Your help isvital if this campaign is to be successful!

Please contact the Secretary of Agriculture todemand an immediate end to illegally duplicativeexperimentation in U.S. laboratories.

Tom Vilsack

Secretary of Agriculture

USDA

1400 Independence Ave. SW

Washington, DC 20250

AgSec@usda.gov

1081-B St. Rt. 28 #280 Milford, OH 45150 513-575-5517 www.saenonline.org

From the Desk of Michael Budkie, SAEN’s Executive Director

Animal experimentation depends on onething to continue -- the general public must bekept in the dark about what really happensinside the laboratories. For animalexperimentation to continue, two myths must beconstantly reinforced by the animal researchindustry. These myths are that animalexperimentation is necessary and that animalsin laboratories are well cared for because labsare highly regulated by a federal agency.

In June of this year, SAEN took two major stepstowards exploding both of these myths. On June 1st,a story ran in United Press International (UPI) inwhich SAEN proved that in many instancesresearchers are doing the same experiments overand over and over again. We demonstrated veryclearly that 57 current projects squander over$110 million in just five years. We were also ableto reveal that these projects are not only redundantin and of themselves, but they are also redundantwith each other. Obviously, the same experimentsdon’t need to be done 57 times simultaneously. Andeven if we were to ignore the fact that animalexperimentation cannot be generalized to humansdue to cross-species differences in anatomy andphysiology, these projects are not directly relevant toany disease -- so much for scientific necessity!

Just 11 days after the UPI story broke, SAENagain made national and international news byexposing terrible negligence and abuse inside threenationally known labs – Charles River Laboratories,Bioreliance, and Tufts University Veterinary School.The suffering endured by the animals in thesefacilities is unconscionable – dogs burnt by heatlamps, pigs castrated without anesthesia, hamsterskilled in a cage washing system or put into a freezerdesignated for cadaver storage while still alive, a dogand monkey killed due to botched surgeries, etc.These incidents are NOT the mark of a wellregulated industry; clearly animals are NOTtreated humanely inside laboratories. Duedirectly to SAEN’s work, these abuses were revealedto the American Public in the pages of publications,such as Boston Globe, Washington Post, and LosAngeles Times, as well as dozens of other well-known publications and radio/TV stations.

Within just 12 days, SAEN exposed thebasic truth about animal experimentation toliterally millions of people worldwide. Thistremendous step lifted the veil of secrecy, putting thetruth out in the open for everyone to see. But thismust be only the beginning! We must continueworking diligently to end animal experimentationonce and for all.

SAEN must continue to investigate absolutelyevery laboratory that we can focus our attentionon to ensure that every abuse, every illegality,every malfeasance is exposed. And we must alsokeep the real motivation for animal experimentation– MONEY – out in the open for every one to see.

This is an enormous task, but we will not shyaway from it. SAEN is already in the process ofobtaining government reports for every single one ofthe 1100 laboratories in the U.S. These federalreports will provide us with hard facts that we canbring to the public to make it irrefutably clear thatabuse and negligence are part of every animallaboratory! Currently, we are working to acquireinternal records from key laboratories so that we canpaint the fullest possible picture of the cruelty andexploitation which is so very commonplace.

We must and will work to end useless andredundant experimentation and insure that theformerly wasted funding is redirected into clinicalresearch which will actually benefit humanmedicine. But, SAEN can only do this with yourhelp. Your direct involvement in our work isabsolutely vital if we are to be successful. You mustwrite to the USDA to make certain that ourcomplaints are given the fullest possibleinvestigations. You must contact your electedofficials to inform them that your tax dollars must bedirected away from useless animal experiments.And, if we are to continue this monumental task oftaking on all of the labs in the U.S., then we mustobtain all of the information that is available, ALLof the facts. You can make this possible. You cangive us the ability to continue our fight for theanimals until every single laboratory cage is empty.

Please make the decision to get actively

involved with our work today!

Your donation of $25, $50, or $100 will help us to fight for millions of animalsimprisoned and suffering in laboratories. Larger gifts of $250, $500, or $1000 willhelp us to take on the 1100 labs that blanket the U.S. with animal exploitation.Your continuing financial support will make it possible for us to keep fighting thecruelty and abuse that is intrinsic to every animal experiment.

Thank you in advance for your gift.

Dear Michael,

I, too, am shocked and saddened by the suffering of innocent animals inlabs today. This must be exposed and ENDED.

Please accept my tax-deductible donation to help withthis cause:

___ $25 ___ $50 ___ $100 ___$250 __ $500 ___ other

All information will be held in the strictest confidence and is for the exclusive use of:

Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! 1081-B St. Rt. 28 #280 Milford, OH 45150

513-575-5517 saen@saenonline.org

Animal Pain in Research Escalating-- Anesthesia denied to Guinea Pigs, Rabbits, Dogs & Monkeys

SAEN’s analysis of national USDA reports overthe course of several years reveals that the number ofanimals experiencing unrelieved pain duringexperimentation is escalating.

The most recent information available from theUSDA reveals that 77,766 animals (213 per day) wereused in experimentation without anesthesia, a 6%increase from the previous year. Experiments atuniversities in Minnesota and Michigan are typical ofprojects that subject animals to unrelieved pain.

According to federal reports, 232 animals -- 24dogs, 6 rabbits, 3monkeys, and numerousspecies of wildlifeincluding squirrels,weasels, chipmunks, and

bats -- experiencedunrelieved pain ordistress in experimentsconducted at theUniversity of Minnesota(Minneapolis).

At this Minneapolis lab, dogs were used inexperiments which injected painful substancesdirectly into their knees, rabbits were subjected totoxic shock, and primates were deprived of water anddenied access to other members of their own species.Wild animals were identified by chopping off sectionsof their toes.

Recently-obtained government reports revealthat 99 animals -- 61 monkeys, 14 guinea pigs, and 24

sheep -- were used in painful experiments withoutanesthesia at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)during 2007.

At this brutal Michigan lab, the atrocitiesinclude: scalding monkeys’ tails in 131 degreeFahrenheit water to test an analgesic drug orpurposely inducing extreme stress using severeconfinement, spinning guinea pigs mounted onturntables or subjecting them to noise sufficient tomake their ear hair fall out, and either severelyconfining or starving sheep to induce stress.

SAEN is demanding internal investigations atboth universities. “Abusive experiments like thoserevealed in these government reports should be endedimmediately,” saidMichael A. Budkie,A.H.T., SAEN’sExecutive Director.“Federal fundingshould be re-directed towardsclinical researchwhich is morerelevant to modernhuman medicine.”

WLALW 2009 -- Fighting for Animals across the Globe

World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week2009 (WLALW) (April 18 – 26) was an amazingsuccess! During this phenomenal week, protests,news conferences, and other media events targetedlabs in 28 cities spanning 18 states and Washington,DC along with international events taking place inFrance, Ireland, and England.

WLALW 2009 events were coordinated inPhoenix (AZ), Los Angeles, Davis, San Francisco, &San Diego (CA), New Haven (CT), Tampa & Maitland(FL), Atlanta (GA), Cambridge & Boston (MA), AnnArbor, East Lansing, & Kalamazoo (MI), Minneapolis(MN), Reno (NV), Concord (NH), Raleigh (NC),Syracuse & New York City (NY), Columbus (OH),Portland (OR), Pittsburgh & Philadelphia (PA),Austin (TX), Richmond (VA), Seattle (WA), andWashington, DC.

During WLALW2009, SAEN’s MichaelBudkie led successfulnews conferences in SanFrancisco and Davis (CA)announcing the launch ofSAEN’s unprecedentedground breaking anti-experimentation TV adsin Los Angeles, SanFrancisco, Berkeley, andDavis. Michael also wasa key speaker at a massive rally in Los Angeles andmarched with San Diego Animal Advocates at aprotest targeting the Salk Institute. These Californiaevents received major coverage blanketing all mediaoutlets exposing the truth about animalexperimentation to hundreds of thousands.

SAEN’s Los Angeles chapter worked inconjunction with Orange County People for Animals(OCPA), UCLA Animal Law Society (ALS), and LastChance for Animals (LCA) bombarding area labs witha week full of anti-animal research events. Theweek’s events kicked off on Monday with a movingspeech by Michael Budkie presented by the UCLAAnimal Law Society. Pressure continued onWednesday with major protests at two University ofCalifornia campuses (Los Angeles and Irvine). TheUCLA protest collided with substantial resistance

from a pro-research group called Pro-Test. A majormedia blitz resulted from the clash over UCLA’sanimal testing and the huge turnout (over 100activists) for the SAEN/LCA/OCPA/ALS event.This exciting week climaxed on Thursday with aprotest at Cedars Sinai.

Numerous WLALW 2009 events spanning theU.S. were exciting and successful. Out west, Covancelabs were targeted by local Phoenix (AZ) activists toexpose the company’s continuing animal abuse.Charles River Laboratories was pressured by activistsof Reno (NV). In Defense of Animals’ northwest officeprotested at Oregon Health Sciences University. TheNorthwest Animal Rights Network exposed thesuffering of primates at the University ofWashington, Seattle.

In the northeast, Win Animal Rights organizedseveral anti-HLS events inNew York City. People forAnimal Rights coordinated aprotest at the Bristol-Myersfacility in Syracuse (NY).Yale Affiliates Animal RightsNetwork & PETA opposedYale. Massachusetts AnimalRights Coalition ralliedagainst animal testing inBoston’s Copley Square andmarched opposing primate

experimentation at Harvard. Reach Out for AnimalRights picketed the University of Pennsylvania, thenation’s leading AWA violator.

In other areas, Protect Our Earth’s Treasurestargeted animal experimentation at Ohio StateUniversity in Columbus. The Pittsburgh Associationfor the Abolition of Vivisection picketed at theUniversity of Pittsburgh. Defend Animal RightsToday and Tomorrow organized an anti-HLS event inWashington, D.C., targeting the Vanguard Group fortheir corporate ties to Huntington Life Sciences.

SAEN would like to thank all of the wonderfullocal and national organizations and activists thatmade World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week2009 such a smashing success and look forward tocontinued cooperation as we work for a day whenevents like WLALW will no longer be necessary!

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Set your home page to www.goodsearch.com and type “Stop Animal Exploitation NOW – SAEN (Milford, OH)” inthe Who Do You GoodSearch for? box. Then every time you perform an internet search using this website, GoodSearchwill donate to SAEN. This is an easy and painless way to support our work. So start GoodSearching today!

Major SAEN Victory-- USDA cites the University of Wisconsin for AWA Violations-- Second Complaint already filed

An official complaint filed by Stop AnimalExploitation NOW! on February 16, 2009, against theUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison (UW) has claimed avictory for the primates at UW. The USDAinvestigation conducted in April of 2009 citedUW for inadequate primary enclosures.

The complaint culminated from SAEN’s researchwhich discovered an incident at UW involvingextreme negligence and serious violations of theAnimal Welfare Act (AWA) which directly affectedseveral primates named Glen, Shepard, and Aldrin.UW records for 6/29/07 disclose that Glen escapedfrom his cage and severely injured both Aldrin andShepard. Shepard sustained a large laceration acrossthe palm of his right hand, while Aldrin’s traumatichand injury necessitated the amputation of a finger.

Even after this victory, SAEN is keeping thepressure on UW with a second official complaintbeing filed in March, demanding that severe action betaken against the same Madison lab in the case ofWally, a macaque monkey, who has suffered terriblyfor over a year.

Wally experienced many of the same traumas asother UW primates including self-inflicted injuriesdue to the psychological stress of being caged alone.He is part of an experiment where a portion of hisskull is removed to expose his brain so thatmicroelectrodes can be forced directly into it throughcylinders which are bolted onto his skull. Recordsindicate that he was treated with a strong antibiotic,Doxycycline, for a bacterial brain infection which isvery common in this type of experiment. We alsoknow from the records that Wally is oftenimmobilized in a primate restraint chair, a box-likedevice, used to severely restrict his movement.

The most detailed and troubling information inWally’s record chronicles his ongoing agony for a 3day period in November of 2006.

On 11/5/06:

9:30 am “According to Care Staff he rejected

food . . . To me he seems confused, significant

pale color of face, but still active.”

12:30 pm “Care staff reported that Wally is laying

down in the cage.”

5:00 pm “Wally is depressed, sitting on cage floor

with hunched posture.”

6:40 pm “Wally is alert, mobile, no interest in

treats, prefers a ‘head-down rump-up posture’ . . .

Headache?”

The next day is no better forWally.

11/6/06 “Alert Mobile, sitting in

head down rump up position. He

has received pain medication

and antibiotics, but they don’t

seem to be helping.”

His suffering continues on . . . . . .

11/7/06 “Still depressed. Sitting

on cage floor with head down.”

These entries paint a picture of a primate who issuffering terribly. The bacterial brain abscess whicharose in April is still present seven months later. Hiscondition has clearly deteriorated, and he is inexcruciating pain. A few weeks later, his condition isso critical that a gravely concerned UW vetrecommends euthanasia:

“As you know, Wally has been on continuous

antibiotic therapy for some time now due to a brain

abscess. . . . (first week of November, 2006), he

started to display clinical signs of headache and

illness, including depression, slumped/head-down

posture and inappetence. . . . Due to the brain

abscess and the need for permanent treatment, it

may be advisable to make plans to humanely

euthanize Wally sometime in the next several

months, and replace him on study.”

The last entry that we have for Wally is in early 2008stating that he is still on antibiotics. More than 14months after the UW veterinarian recommendedeuthanasia for Wally, he is still being used inexperimentation despite a lingering bacterialinfection. Wally’s life has been one of abjectsuffering, loneliness, and pain.

Please write to the Director of the EasternRegion of the USDA/APHIS/AC to demandimmediate action against the UW, Madison:

Dr. Elizabeth Goldentyer

USDA/APHIS/AC

920 Main Campus Dr, Suite 2000

Raleigh, NC 27606

(919) 855-7100

Betty.J.Goldentyer@usda.gov

SAEN launches TV Ads targeting UC Primate Experiments

On April 21st, 2009, SAEN announced the airingof a new cutting-edge TV commercial during dramaticnews conferences in both San Francisco and Davis,CA. The paid TV spot aired in primetime on CNN,Animal Planet, CNN Headline News, and FoxNews in Berkeley, Davis, San Francisco, and LosAngeles areas. By interspersing dramatic text withshocking photos, this ground-breaking TV spoteducates viewers about the reality of animalexperimentation. This commercial ran for a week inmajor California cities reaching hundreds ofthousands of people. Media interest in thecommercial was substantial, with the ad even

generating an editorial in The Aggie, the newspaperof the University of California, Davis.

The editorial stated that the SAEN commercialrepresented “a tremendous step forward.” Theeditorial goes on to say that “By simply airing acommercial, SAEN . . . has elevated animalrights groups as a whole and taken a steptoward being taken more seriously.”

The SAEN TV spot can be seen on our website’shome page at: www.saenonline.org and on YouTube.The text of the commercial is reproduced below withthe actual pictures interspersed.

This is Torture.

Strapped into restraint chairs.

Bolts in their heads.

Deprived of water.

Is this a prison camp?

No, it’s worse.

YOUR Tax dollars pay for this.

It’s not Science.

It’s animal abuse.

Happening now at University of California, Davis, Berkeley, San Francisco, Los Angeles.

Let’s Stop the torture NOW.

www.saenonline.org

SAEN’s Executive Director finishing Emotional & Moving Book

Michael Budkie will complete his book in timefor the AR2009 conference. Our next newsletterwill detail how you can get your own copy. In themeantime, here’s a sneak peek:

In the roughly 20 years that I've been an animal activist I haveworked almost exclusively on the animal experimentation issue.I've read tens of thousands of pages of inspection reports,research protocols, and health care records for dogs, cats, goats,and primates. After awhile you start to look at things not in termsof the pain and suffering, or the insanity of the experimentation,

but for the quality of the information. Dealing with all of thissuffering, greed, and death tends to rob you of your emotions.You start to keep a distance, speaking in terms of press coverage,and reaching people with the truth. You separate yourself from thepain - the pain of the animals - and your own. You start tofunction almost like the staff of animal laboratories. If you think interms of the individual lives lost it will be far too painful.

Then it happens. Something grabs you and won't let go. It mightbe a picture, it might be a specific animal, or it might even be aphrase. . . . . . . . . . .

SAEN is now on Facebook!

SAEN has launched an exciting new page onFacebook. Check it out by signing up to be aSAEN fan. All of our latest news and upcomingevents are posted here so you can keep up to datewith everything SAEN is doing.

Plus, don’t forget about our primary website,www.saenonline.org, where our most detailedinformation, newsletters, and media coverage areposted.

Vegan Recipes

Papaya and Avocado Salad

1 avocado, peeled, pitted, & cubed1 papaya, peeled, seeded, & cubed1 tomato, cubed1 jar heart of palm, drained, rinsed, & cubed¼ cup chayote squash or jicama, peeled & julienned

½ onion, choppedsalt & pepper to tastelime vinaigrette (recipe below)¼ cup black olives, chopped1 tbsp cilantro, chopped

Combine avocado, papaya, tomato, heart of palm, chayote or jicama, and onion in a largebowl. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with lime vinaigrette, and refrigerate, covered for 1 hour. Placeinto serving bowls and garnish with olives and cilantro.

Makes 4 servings

Lime Vinaigrette

1 clove garlic, crushed½ tsp Dijon mustard

3 tbsp lime juice 2 tbsp tahini¼ to ½ cup olive oil ½ tsp salt

Blend all ingredients together.

Taking Care of Animals Now and Forever

Your love for animals can live on even after you have left this world. You can insure that our work to end animalexperimentation continues on to its final conclusion by remembering Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! in your will.This is a wonderful way to show your lasting concern for animals.

Matching Gifts

Many U.S. companies generously match employees’ donations to their favorite charities. If you are employed, pleasecheck with your company to see if they match gifts and take the time to fill out the form. Most companies matchemployees’ gifts one to one, but some match two to one or even three to one. Help maximize your donation.

Vegetarian Summerfest – SAEN Takes Animal Rights on the Road

Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! staff were activeparticipants in Vegetarian Summerfest 2009, whichwas held on the campus of the University ofPittsburgh, Johnstown. SAEN brought the animalrights message to a receptive audience of over600, leading presentations on topics fromanimal experimentation to biblical perspectiveson animal rights.

On the first full day of Summerfest, SAEN’sExecutive Director, Michael Budkie, led a movingsession titled The Grief of Dealing with AnimalIssues. Despite being scheduled simultaneously withtwo of the conference’s most popular speakers, thissession overflowed. Michael’s presentation opened bydiscussing the enormity of animal issues – 20 milliondie in labs annually, 10 billion die for food, etc. Thefocus then shifted to the isolating and depressingnature of the issues we focus on. Michael sharedexperiences from his training as an animal caretechnician – hearing rabbits scream, feeling a mousedie in his hand, etc. Then the session was opened upto allow all of the attendees to share their ownfeelings. The presentation ended with Michael urgingactivists to keep fighting for the animals, just as theykeep fighting for their own freedom, despite theirimprisonment in steel cages.

On Friday, Michael’s presentation brought thetruth about animal experimentation to theSummerfest audience. What every Caring Personshould know about Animal Experimentation, andwhat they can do equipped activists with factual

information about the reality of animalexperimentation, as well as teaching the bestmethods for investigating research facilities andlaunching campaigns to end animal experiments.

What the Bible has to say about a Plant-basedDiet and Animal Rights was a panel discussion thattook place on Saturday to a packed house. MiltonMills MD moderated the panel and presented aChristian perspective while Roberta Schiff presenteda Jewish perspective on animal issues. Mr. Budkie’stalk focused on the overall compassionate nature ofthe Christian message, using Jesus as an example ofhow we should understand the true meaning ofconcepts like stewardship and dominion. With Jesus’life used as a basis for interpreting these concepts itbecomes clear that human dominion over otherspecies should be a dominion of service and caring,not exploitation. When the concept of stewardship ofcreation is re-interpreted in light of Jesus’ NewTestament teachings, it is clear that stewardshipactually means that we are caring for a world whichis NOT our property to use and abuse. The earthbelongs to the Creator and as stewards we will beheld responsible for our actions relating to bothanimals and the environment. Again, stewardshipdoes not imply license, but service.

We believe that SAEN’s involvement in theVegetarian Summerfest 2009 conference brought theanimal rights message to a sympathetic audience thatis becoming increasingly more attuned to ending theabuse of animals in their daily lives.

SAEN is Growing - NOW Fighting for Freedom of Exotic Animals

SAEN is dedicated to the elimination of animalexperimentation across the U.S. Our work in thisarea is often connected to other areas of animalabuse. One of the most closely related animal issuesinvolves the exploitation of captive exotic animals.The same issues frequently face primates whetherthey are held captive in labs or for sale in the exotic

animal trade.However, exoticanimal issues alsoinvolve many otherspecies, includingeverything fromelephants to big cats.

Don Elroy with Michael

Budkie during a 2006 news

conference in San Antonio, TX

One of SAEN’s closest allies in our work foranimals has always been Don Elroy, an expert indealing with exotic animal issues. Whether it hasbeen providing information about animal dealers orhelping with the filing of official complaints againstlaboratories (as well as the news conferences toannounce the complaints), Don has always been anasset to SAEN. Many of our successes, including therecent revelations of abuse inside Charles River Labs,Bioreliance, and Tufts University were due to leadsprovided by Don.

We are happy to announce that Don Elroyhas joined SAEN’s staff as an exotic animalspecialist. His work will focus on many issuesincluding elephants in captivity, the abuse of exoticanimals by dealers, etc. We know that Don’sexpertise and dedication will continue to be an assetto SAEN and all of the animals.

SAEN Leads Animal Experimentation Talks at AR2009-- SAEN’s UCLA Protest Tops Off Conference

Every year the Animal Rights NationalConference (AR2009) brings over 1000 activiststogether for seminars, training, and motivationalpresentations on virtually every issue which faces theanimal rights movement. AR2009, held in LosAngeles this year, was another extremely successfulevent which saw dozens of wonderful speakerseducating participants on numerous topics. SAENwas a major player in this year’s event,handling seven presentations, tabling, andorganizing a major protest at UCLA as theclimax of the conference.

Our Executive Director, Michael Budkie, eitherled or participated in every AR2009 panel that dealtwith animal experimentation. SAEN’s OfficeManager, Karen, and our Summer Intern, Elyse,staffed SAEN’s information and merchandise tablecommunicating with hundreds of attendees andspreading the word about many of our majorcampaigns and recruiting activists for the criticalUCLA protest for Monday, July 20th.

Accordingto participants,one of the bestpresentations ofthe entireconference wasthe Abusing ourCousins paneldiscussion,which revealedall aspects of the

abuse which our society heaps on non-humanprimates. This presentation was led by Dr. ShirleyMcGreal, Chairperson of the International PrimateProtection League, who explored the internationaltrade in primates and their sale to the U.S. SAEN’sMichael Budkie presented an in-depth exposition of

the use of primates in U.S. research laboratories.Kari Bagnall, Director of the Jungle Friends PrimateSanctuary in Florida, closed the session with athought provoking talk on the primate pet trade.

Other presentations given by SAEN’s staffincluded: Newcomer Orientation II, Animal Abuse forScience, Vivisection Campaigns, Effective Tactics forVivisection, and Research/Info Programs.

SAEN merchandise officially debuted at theAR2009 conference. SAEN t-shirts, stainless steelwater bottles, and posters are now being sported bymany conference attendees. Also unveiled at thisevent was Michael Budkie’s new book, Tear at theJacket -- a Grim Look into America’s PrimateResearch Labs. All SAEN merchandise will soon beavailable through our website.

On Monday, July, 20th, dozens of AR2009attendees gathered in the hotel lobby to board thechartered SAENbus which wouldtake them to thecampus of UCLA fora major protest.

Over 100activists marchedfrom the edge of theUCLA campus tothe chancellor’soffice to present ademand that the primate experiments of JoaquinFuster be immediately ended. The rally was cappedby an inspiring speech given by Michael Budkie(which can be seen on YouTube and Facebook).

The UCLA protest garnered major mediacoverage from the Los Angeles Times, two local LosAngeles TV stations, and the largest local radio newsstation.