Animal welfare advocates demand answers on whereabouts of St. Joe’s research dogs

Animal advocates held a ‘Release the Dogs’ protest at St. Joseph’s Friday, demanding to know the whereabouts of research dogs. Bryan Bicknell reports.

St. Joseph’s Health Care says six of the eight dogs that were used in research at the hospital are at an organization being prepped for adoption.

The other two remain under the care of the Animal Care Committee at Western University.

The community update from St. Joseph’s came in response to a demonstration outside the hospital front doors Friday.

Approximately 30 animal welfare advocates gathered to demand answers.

Co-organizer Mackenzie Kirschner says they were calling on the hospital to make public the whereabouts of all the dogs involved in the research.

“So as far as we know, two dogs remain in that hospital, and six are missing. And we’re here today to hopefully encourage them to release the remaining two, and verify the whereabouts of the other six,” she said.

A story by the National Post Investigative Bureau this past August revealed Lawson Research, the research arm of St. Joseph’s, had been using dogs to study heart attacks in humans.

Following public backlash, the hospital announced it would cease research studies involving dogs.

In an update to the community Friday, St. Joseph’s and Lawson Research indicated two of eight dogs remain under the care of Western University’s Animal Care Committee, at least for the time being.

The update says the ACC arranged to transfer all eight dogs to an accredited organization that would not be named; it’s a process that would begin their path toward adoption. The update says six of the dogs went on Sept. 10, and they are receiving ongoing care to make sure they are ready for family homes.

“The two remaining dogs continue to do well in each other’s company and will remain under excellent care until they can be transferred,” the statement reads. “Further updates will be shared as they become available.”

Jesse Bell, who co-organized Friday’s demonstration, says he doesn’t buy it.

“Given the secrecy behind it, and the very tight-lipped that’s going on here, I’m putting money on it, the dogs never got released,” said Bell.

On Nov. 25, the Ontario government introduced draft legislation to restrict invasive medical research on dogs and cats, with the exception of specified purposes such as veterinary research.

The proposed legislation would also prohibit breeding cats or dogs for research purposes.

Animal welfare advocate Shauna Brock Howard, who attended Friday’s demonstration, says it’s a good start but doesn’t go far enough to protect other animals that could also be used in medical research.

“It needs to be more reflective and inclusive of other animals. And the people that are in charge, that make the decisions, like UWO, the committee there, they really have very little accountability,” said Brock Howard.