Letter to the Editor

Editor:

We were dismayed to see a full-page advertisement for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in the March 2004 issue of Veterinary Pathology. The American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) members serve in many ways to promote animal health and are concerned about animal welfare. However, according to Americans for Medical Progress (http://www.amprogress.org/) and the Foundation for Biomedical Research (http://www.fbresearch.org/), HSUS is an animal-rights group, not an animal-welfare organization. It does not provide support for local humane societies, but competes with them for donations. Its massive budget of over $60 million annually is used for media campaigns, political action, and lawsuits, not for the direct benefit of animals. HSUS tries to project a moderate image, but opposes the use of animals in research. HSUS also has links with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an extremist group known for advocacy of violence by some of its leaders.

Publication of ads for animal-rights organizations in scientific journals inappropriately promotes the credibility of such groups. The HSUS ad in Veterinary Pathology conveys the impression that ACVP endorses the activities and agendas of animal-rights groups and gives them an opportunity to use such implications in their propaganda. We urge the Editor and ACVP officers to (1) publish a statement disavowing any endorsement or approval of HSUS or other animal-rights groups by ACVP, (2) adopt a policy against acceptance of ads from such organizations, and (3) implement an oversight mechanism to prevent inadvertent acceptance of such ads in the future.

Trenton R.Schoeb Professor, Department of Genetics University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL Robert Baker Clinical Veterinarian, Animal Resources Program University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL Samuel C. Cartner Associate Director, Animal Resources Program Associate Professor, Department of Genetics University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL Lynita Caudill Program Manager I, Animal Resources Program University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL James E. Crawford Program Manager II, Animal Resources Program University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL Lauretta W. Gerrity Director, Animal Resources Program Professor, Department of Genetics University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL M. Margaret Juliana Veterinary Pathologist, Animal Resources Program Associate Professor, Department of Genetics University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL