Dog testing where I work! Help!

[Barley'sMom]

(I need all the help I can get, so I'm selfishly posting this in the Fire Hydrant forum too)

Hi all. I've been absent for a while. I started a new job, and it's been nutty. I'm finally well-paid, and the benefits are amazing, and I like it. Not in love with it, but like it.

Here's the problem: I just found out that they experiment on dogs.

Not only do they do surgeries on them for "practice," but they do them downstairs. I can hear them barking occasionally, and it troubles me to no end. I've only been there a week, and I don't know what to do. The whole story is posted below.

I need advice, badly. Thanks.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/?id=407629
__________________

 

[jess2416]

I'm sorry your having to deal with this difficult situation, but honestly I'm not sure what to say

 

[iheartsammy]

I'm sorry your having to deal with this difficult situation, but honestly I'm not sure what to say

u took the words out of my mouth

 

[LabBreeder]

You can only do what you have to do and what your conscience will allow you to do.
I thought the testing was supposed to stop (according to the article)? It sounds that way at least.

 

[cheeseplate]

Not sure what to say, but no point leaving the job over this as it wont affect what happens the dogs but will be negative on you. You may want to talk someone who is in a higher position than you about it.

 

[Dizzy]

You only really have 2 choices:

Keep working there, or quit..

If you make a fuss and complain, there is the risk of being sacked.

It all depends on your morals vs your needs...

 

[bubbatd]

Unfortunately these things do go on. I really don't like it..but on the other hand , as long as there's no suffering , these dogs who would be put down anyway are helping mankind ....please don't take me wrong though....it's sad.

 

[Barley'sMom]

these dogs would be put down anyway

See, that's part of the problem... they wouldn't be put down anyway. The guy that acquires the dogs gets them the following ways: 1. adoptions from humane societies that are unaware of his purpose, 2. he breeds them, 3. stray dogs from the pound.

If I couldn't hear them barking, it wouldn't be so bad. Hopefully they will eventually phase the dog surgeries out... they're not even vet students.

 

[SummerRiot]

Where my dad works, there are animals that get tested on as well.

HE doesn't do it himself, it goes on in the basement of his building.

He is a Biotechnitionist at a University. It happens, he doesn't like it either, but its also not his job to work on them.

 

[bubbatd]

Yes... there's a big difference if they are adoptable dogs. In my sick mind... I believe those on death row in prison should be allowed to donate organs before their lethal shots. My Tom was an organ donor , but as bad as his heart, lungs etc were, I didn't think anything could be harvested .... boy was I wrong !

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

I'm sure that is really upsetting for you, working in a place like that. You'll just have to listen to your heart. It's probably not going to change. I hate those types of things. So, so sad!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SalemWitchChild]

You have to make a decision. Follow your morals or follow your financial needs. Whatever you choose make sure you can live with your decision without guilt.

 

[RetrieverLove]

See, that's part of the problem... they wouldn't be put down anyway. The guy that acquires the dogs gets them the following ways: 1. adoptions from humane societies that are unaware of his purpose, 2. he breeds them, 3. stray dogs from the pound.

That's sick and absolutely horrifying. Personally, I'd start raising awareness among your coworkers. I'd get a petition going against it, and raise a big fuss. With that being said I would never, ever in a million years work in a place like that. So If I was not sacked in the process of kicking up sh!t over it, I would quit for sure.

 

[Barley'sMom]

I started browsing jobs again tonight. It's so rough! I just finished my master's degree, and it's been so tight financially. I'm an Editor in a biophysics department, but my boss has been introducing me as his secretary. If I was his secretary, that would be fine. But I didn't get a master's degree so I could fetch coffee for him. Or hear dogs barking in the basement.

I can understand animal testing in some situations, especially medical and non-cosmetic reasons. But this is an antiquated, outdated, and unusual use of dogs. There's some gross remark in the article about how interesting it is for a student to hold a beating heart minutes before they kill the dog. great for them.

 

[pocket warmer]

I think you`re doing the right thing looking for another job,to be upset every day at work would eventually grind you down but now you can probly find somewhere you`ll be happy,with your job and yourself.

 

[Bailey+Ralph]

You have to follow your heart

I worked in a Home for the elderly and was only there for 6 months b/c i couldn't bare to see the treatment that the elderly people got from my co-workers.
They couldn't be bothered to put any time or effort into caring for them
I couldn't bare to work there and be a part of that, so i left!

 

[mjb]

I worked in research labs with animal testing. I did eventually quit because I had a hard time with it. I worked there for quite awhile first, though. It was medical research in a university setting (it wasn't dogs....rats, mice, and rabbits), and I don't have a real problem with medical research, but I did have a hard time actually witnessing it. Well, one job was at a university, and another job was at the CDC. I never saw any inhumane handling of the animals, though. As I said, I eventually quit because I did not enjoy the job, and the reason I didn't enjoy it was because of the animal research. It wasn't a decision made overnight, though. But, it seems once you start thinking about, if the job doesn't change, you probably end up moving on when an opportunity arises.