Ontario will implement a ban on research testing involving dogs and cats, as announced by Premier Doug Ford on Monday. Ford condemned the practice, labeling it as "cruel" and stated emphatically, "You aren’t going to use pets—dogs or cats—to experiment on any longer." His remarks were made during an unrelated news conference in London, Ontario.
The decision comes in light of serious allegations raised by two whistleblowers who reported concerns regarding cardiac research tests conducted on dogs at the Lawson Research Institute affiliated with St. Joseph's Health Care in London. These whistleblowers contacted Animal Justice, a prominent animal rights organization, which subsequently connected them with the University of Toronto’s Investigative Journalism Bureau. An article published earlier this month detailed the harrowing findings that several dogs, predominantly puppies, were subjected to experiments and euthanized before their internal organs were harvested for additional examination.
After discussions with provincial authorities, the research institute announced it would cease all dog-related research. St. Joseph's defended its practices, stating that the experiments were conducted under appropriate regulations and adhered to established rules. The institution remarked that both Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration necessitate animal-tested protocols as essential proof-of-principle for the efficacy and safety of new treatments prior to human application. Furthermore, they asserted that animal testing was only implemented when scientifically valid alternatives were absent.
Despite the cessation of research, St. Joseph’s acknowledged halting "groundbreaking research that has resulted in major strides in cardiac care and treatment," raising concerns about the potential implications for medical advancements. Following the release of information regarding the testing of dogs, Premier Ford engaged in a series of communications with one of the whistleblowers. "I got to thank the whistleblower that sent me pictures and texted me and everything else," Ford expressed. He labeled this individual a "champion" for bringing the situation to light.
Moreover, Ford issued a strong warning to other scientists engaged in similar practices: "Now I’m gonna start looking for everyone else. If there’s anyone else out there that’s doing this to animals, come clean, because we’re gonna catch you." The whistleblower, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of legal repercussions, shared that they were taken aback by the intensity of the Premier's response. They indicated that their initial contact with Ford was about an unrelated topic, but they seized the opportunity to discuss the troubling practices involving animals.
The whistleblower recounted a disturbing practice where puppies as young as eight months old were transported from the U.S. for experimentation. They described how researchers would induce prolonged heart attacks to enhance medical imaging processes for humans, highlighting the unethical nature of the testing performed. “I didn’t think we could expect somebody so high up to be on our side with this,” the whistleblower said. They expressed gratitude towards Ford for his willingness to vocalize opposition to such practices, stating, “Because now that he’s involved, I really feel like we’re going to make a lot of changes.”
Animal Justice responded positively to the announcement of the forthcoming legislation aimed at banning animal testing. Camille Labchuk, the executive director of the organization, stated, “Ontarians love our pets like family, and they should never be made to suffer in cruel experiments.” However, she emphasized the need for further action, advocating for the closure of a loophole that permits lost and abandoned cats and dogs in shelters to be sold to experimenters. Labchuk stressed the importance of legislative measures that ensure animals can be adopted rather than subjected to experimentation.
