Australian Medical School at Melbourne University Uses Live Dogs for Practice
Isn’t it time that Melbourne University join the rest of the civilized world and STOP using dogs for surgery practice?
Please be warned that this is a very upsetting article.
Thanks to LIVENEWS.com.au for this article.
Healthy dogs used for surgery training
Richard Maxton
13/04/2008Veterinary students at Melbourne University are operating on healthy and sometimes pregnant dogs, then killing the animals.
The dogs are anaesthetised before the operation and then euthanised before they wake up.Dr Hugh Wirth from the RSPCA says it is a cruel way of teaching.
“At the present time what’s happening is an age-old custom where live animals that are perfectly healthy are operated on an never allowed to recover. We don’t think that’s right and proper.”
One former student said she was given a pregnant bitch carrying seven pups for surgery practice. She said other students were given pups as young as two-months old.
Other students have claimed the laboratories were often unsupervised, meaning trainees had to leaf through text books as they operate.
Dean of Veterinary Science Professor Ken Hinchcliff says training on live animals is common practice.
“Use of live animals is a small but vital part of our surgery teaching program before clinical training,” Prof Hinchcliff told News Ltd.
Prof Hinchcliff refused to reveal where the dogs came from, saying only they were “donated”.
It is believed the university advertised for unwanted pets and former farm or breeding dogs.
Greyhound Victoria has admitted it provided dogs to the university.
That’s horrible
Poor dogs(and pups), why are people heartless, only dogs with terminal illnesses or pregnant dogs that are ready to give birth should get a surgery, not a pregnant dog that isn’t ready to give birth or a healthy dog. Even a 2 month old puppy isn’t for surgery unless its sick of bladder stones…Why is everyone careless, no to unexpected surgeries or deaths!
What the? Oh come ON people!!!!!!
I am so sorry to hear this, my neice is in vet school. I hope this is not a practice that goes on in this country. Tho, I suppose it does. I can’t help but think of my own baby and how the owners of those babies did not care about them. Oh dear God, how can anyone do such a thing. It is so painful to think about and I will pray for the people who gave these animals up, the precious pups are already in the hand of God.
You sentimental fools. These Vet students need to practise so they can operate on your pets when they get into the workforce. These animals would be destroyed otherwise, just like thousands and thousands of other stray or unwanted animals are destroyed each year. Isn’t it better that the animals serve a purpose instead of being chucked straight into the incinerator? They don’t know the difference.