Monkeys strapped into metal harnesses while cats and dogs bleed in footage at 'German laboratory'

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Monkeys are strapped into metal harnesses, while cats and dogs are left bleeding and dying in footage which animal rights activists claim was filmed at a German toxicology laboratory.

The German animal activist organisation Soko Tierschutz together with Cruelty Free International say the alleged abuse took place at LPT Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology in Mienenbuttel, on the outskirts of Hamburg.

Photos show macaques strapped to metal brackets in rows on the wall, others have their heads in restraints and are shown desperately trying to escape, while a beagle appears to bleed profusely in cramped cells.

An undercover activist got a job at the research facility from December 2018 to March 2019, and says he witnessed testing on beagles, monkeys, cats and rabbits, carried out for companies throughout the world.

A beagle bleeds inside a cage following an experiment, which activists say was carried out at the LPT Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology in Mienenbuttel

Macaque monkeys are locked into harnesses during research at the facility

Macaque monkeys have numbers penned onto their chests as they are strapped down for testing

The undercover worker said the animals were kept in horrific conditions.

Beagles reportedly had pipes forced down their throats and were given capsules, and left suffering and often bleeding following the experiments.

A beagle is seen bleeding over tiles, it is not clear what induced the wound

He claimed the animals were treated with violence by the workers, who are not trained animal carers.

Friedrich Mullen from Soko Tierschutz said: 'The animals were even still waggling their tails when they were being taken to be killed, the dogs were desperate for human contact.'

He added: 'The worst treatment was kept for the monkeys. The macaques breed of monkeys are small, relatively light primates, which are often used for animal experiments at LPT.

'They are kept in cramped conditions in small cages. Many of the animals have developed compulsive tendencies and are seen going round in circles.'

The cats are said to be given up to 13 injections per day by untrained professionals and left to suffer.

The animal activists have reported the case to police who are investigating.

They also claim the laws in Germany protecting animals from experiments are not strict enough and call for the laws to be tightened.

A cat, with the fur around its legs appearing to have been worn away, peers from its cage at the unit

A monkey shrieks as it grapples with its metal collar at the research facility

A beagle lying across the floor inside a narrow cell at the facility, with blood spatters on the floor

LPT is a family-owned contract-testing laboratory carrying out toxicity testing for pharmaceutical, industrial and agro-chemical companies from all over the world in order to meet the requirements of governments and regulatory authorities.

According to the organisation Cruelty Free International: 'Toxicity testing involves poisoning animals to see how much of a chemical or drug it takes to cause serious harm, in an attempt to measure what a "safe" dose for humans might be.

'Animals are injected with or made to eat or inhale increasing amounts of a substance to measure the toxic effects which can be severe and include vomiting, internal bleeding, respiratory distress, fever, weight loss, lethargy, skin problems, organ failure and even death. No anaesthetics or pain relief are provided.'

Footage shows the monkeys exhibiting obsessive behaviours, including going round in circles in their cages

Macaque monkeys are strapped into their harnesses during testing at the suspected toxicology laboratory

Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of Cruelty Free International stated: 'Our investigation has uncovered appalling animal suffering, inadequate care, poor practices and breaches of European and German law.

'We are calling for the Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology (LPT) to be closed. We are also calling for a comprehensive review into the use of animals in regulatory toxicity testing in Europe, including the UK.

'Every investigation, without fail, shows a similar tale of misery and disregard of the law.'

The MailOnline has attempted to contact the LPT Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology for comment.

Fragmoplast on October 15th, 2019 at 06:10 UTC »

Meanwhile, my colleague working on neurotoxicology had to spend two months to file pages of paperwork and moral justification for every single mouse used in her experiment. These black sheep make our work more difficult every time they surface.

I feel angry not because of the cruelty, but for the needlessness of it all. Looking at the beagle or the monkeys I can tell without knowing the experiment that the data they derived from their testing will be trash or at least unreliable. Animals need to feel as well as possible to exclude unrelated influences in their testing. Any kind of stress already shifts the biological system you are investigating. It is such a stupid waste of time, life and material....

Edit: Trash is rather harsh term I used here. Of course there is some value in it. However, "Open esophageal injury increases susceptibility to toxic substances" is hardly a nature level finding. /s

GiantBone on October 15th, 2019 at 04:42 UTC »

Shout out to the undercover activist. An actual example of changing a system from within.

LiquorCordials on October 15th, 2019 at 03:01 UTC »

The animals were even still waggling their tails when they were being taken to be killed, the dogs were desperate for human contact

That’s when I had to stop reading