In an attempt to halt the needless slaughter of innocent felines, the New England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS) has offered to take all the unwanted cats and kittens used in experiments by the USDA.
Since 1982, nearly 3,000 cats and kittens have been killed at the USDA Animal Research Service (ARS) center in Beltsville, Maryland after the animals were cruelly experimented on and discarded.
According to NEAVS, the research facility orders up to 100 2-month-old kittens at a time from an Iowa breeder, gives them food infected with the Toxoplasma parasite, and collects their feces for testing. Two weeks later, the kittens are no longer needed, so they are euthanized and incinerated.
“The USDA may consider these kittens trash, but we don’t. If the USDA simply agrees to our offer, NEAVS will make sure these animals get into loving homes, and soon,” said NEAVS director of policy and government affairs Mike Ryan.
Although these kittens are infected with a parasite, the condition is easily treatable. Yet the animals are still murdered instead of being adopted into suitable homes to live out the rest of their lives.
Thankfully, many in Washington are pushing for a change in this cruel practice. Congress has passed a bill — to go into effect later this year — instructing the USDA to explore ways to adopt these animals instead of killing them, as well as end testing on kittens altogether.
With Congress pushing for procedure changes and NEAVS offering to cover all costs related to the rescue of these cats — including transport, antibiotics and rehoming — there’s no reason for the USDA to continue. In fact, the agency will save money by not having to pay for euthanasia and incineration.
“Congress has told the USDA to consider an adoption model instead of automatically killing these kittens,” said Ryan. “We’re happy to pay any and all costs associated with getting these kittens into safe, loving homes. We’re hopeful USDA will eventually agree to this.”

Thank you!!
HUGE THANK YOU to NEAVS — We must end the use, abuse, exploitation of animals for NEEDLESS tests, research and experiments — These unconscionable, cruel, depravedly sadistic, deplorable tests & experiments are inefficient, inaccurate and, above all, unnecessary — RELEASE all animals to Sanctuaries — animals are no longer used IN THIS DAY & AGE — Reputable & respectable research facilities do NOT utilize animals — pay a visit to PCRM.org — we have alternatives whereby animals are NOT used — this needless, depraved, merciless & unconscionable cruelty MUST come to a STOP permanently.
BRAVO! I AM CONTINUALLY APPALLED AT THE ANIMAL CRUELTYPERPETRATED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT! IT MUST BE STOPPED–ALL OF IT!
MY FAMILY & I ALWAYS ADOPT FROM LOCAL SHELTERS. US LAWS MUST DEMAND AN END TO PUPPY MILLS & ANIMAL BREEDERS!
Just help them,I really can’t live with so much cruelty…
THANK YOU to the NEAVS for taking on the USDA in this ridiculous act of what should be felony animal abuse.
This is another reason puppy mills AND CAT FACTORIES, like the one in Iowa, should be shut down now and forever.
These are not “just cats”. They are tiny lives that should never have to suffer death by fire. This is psychotic behavior.
Many people do not know how these kittens used in the Maryland lab’s toxo “study” are killed and incinerated.
THEY ARE KILLED IN THE INCINERATOR. They are NOT euthanized first. Just sent down a chute to burn alive.
I’d rather die in the gutter of starvation rather than take a job that expects you to kill innocent animals. Who does that?
This is giving animal/CAT abusers the perfect outlet to indulge in their sick, pathologic behavior.
Thank u,you said the best words.I agree with every all that..
That is so wonderful of you! I hope they accept your offer.
please adopt them out.. allow REAL humans to give them a home and love…. and just stop your torture! “scientists” are merely animal abusers in white coats. they don’t care about finding any results.. they are just enjoying their torture.
Stop and NOW, let them be adopted !
Why is this even happening? The same experiment over and over with the same result is Insanity. These kittens are innocent. Why are they just killed when they could have been treated and found homes? Why are we still experimenting on animals?
SO SAD ABOUT THE HUMAN RACE ,SO CIVILIZED ,YET SO PATHETIC. PERHAPS IF THEY’RE LOVED ONES WERE TREATED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THESE POOR INNOCENT ANIMALS THEY WOULD COME TO REALIZE THAT EVERY CREATURE TWO LEGGED OR FOUR LEGGED DESERVE BETTER,LOVE ,COMPASSION. THESE POOR ANIMALS ARE HELPLESS, THEY HAVE NO VOICE,WE MUST SPEAK FOR THEM,WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO HELP THESE ANIMALS.WE ARE HUMANS CAPABLE AWFUL THINGS,BUT WE ARE ALSO HUMAN BEINGS CAPABLE OF GREAT THINGS,LETS DO THE RIGHT THING “PLEASE “
Unbelievable. The Governments and People who Allow and Do these Experiments all over the World on Animals is Sickening. We will never truly know what really goes on.
Animal Abuse Everywhere is Heartbreaking.
STOP.
Why, as taxpayers, are we ALLOWING our government to do stupid experiments on such innocent creatures???Just like the cosmetic industry, these experiments are repeated hundreds of thousands of times, and the same results are obtained. Not only is this a waste of money, but it is absolutely cruel. Think of that the next time you pay BIG bucks for your cosmetics!!! We as taxpayers MUST PUT A STOP to this!!!!!!! Only a sick individual would continue to do harm on such innocent babies.
There is a bill in Congress that we all should make sure our Reps support ….The KITTEN Act.
https://blog.whitecoatwaste.org/2018/05/11/breaking-kitten-act-aims-to-defund-usda-cat-killing/
Let your reps know we do not want our tax dollars funding animal abuse of any kind – EVER.
Ummm, why is there not a petition to sign and send to the USDA research division to spur them on to do the right thing instead of calling and not getting through. Would make it a lot easier and would most likely have a bigger impact.
Good point Valerie. I would sign in a second!
Awesome!!!
CALL THE USDA TO MAKE YOUR OBJECTION COUNT:
:
202) 720 0088 The main number connects you with the USDA research division’s headquarters
202) 720 3658 This number is for the USDA’s dedicated phone line for kitten lab complaints.
Some talking points :
•As a taxpayer, I’m calling to urge the USDA to end its deadly experiments on kittens and adopt out the surviving cats
•I am disturbed that a USDA laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland breeds up to 100 kittens a year, feeds the 2-month-old kittens parasite-infected raw meat, collects their feces for 3 weeks, and then kills and incinerates the kittens even though they’re healthy and adoptable.
•This waste and abuse costs taxpayers $650,000 each year, and taxpayers have been footing the bill for nearly 50 years.
•Last month, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to urge the USDA to end these tests and adopt out the cats
•Congress has introduced the bipartisan KITTEN Act to permanently end the USDA’s painful cat testing
Please call. When I first called, their mail box was full, but the next morning, I was able to leave a message.
Please be as civil as possible, so they understand that we are good people who want the best outcome for these felines.
Thank you, Joan, for the info. I’ll be making that call, AND sharing with all my friends and family.
I can be as civil as I need to be to make sure these innocent kittens are re-homed to places where they won’t be tortured.
It would be really nice if all those funds could have been/ be utilized to spay and neuter community cats.
Something to reduce suffering. Do something positive with OUR funds. I’d vote for that 🙂
WHY THEY DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE?
Secondly, it is accurate to call what the UDSA does to rid themselves of these poor kittens, Euthanasia? According to Merriam Webster’s definition of euthanasia:
the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy
Are these kittens or cats hopelessly sick or injured?
Is their method of killing them relatively painless for reasons of mercy?
NO!
These felines are sentenced to death. No white washing! Also, gassing an animal to death by Nitrogen alone is torturously painful, if that’s what they’re doing. That’s the cheap way to gas something to death.
Irene Leggett, you are 100% correct! Thank you for making that clear (four posts down).
No animal is trash! Please adopt those that have survived!
No. animal is trash! Cruelty can never be excused! So happy they are to be adopted!
Lets face reality. All these worthless, useless experiments are carried out time after time just so these places of torture can carry on getting their ‘funding’ Their ‘funding’ millions of tax payers’ MONEY just to carry on abusing animals, NOT to find ‘miracle cures’ NO just to carry on filling their bank accounts with the blood money that they get……..
You are so right, Irene.
These “jobs” are to make sure they and their chosen colleagues have an income, that’s all.
I believe the only people who would work in a lab doing “research” like this are closet animal abusers.
This gives psychos an outlet for their sick behaviors. On our tax dollars.
I’ll be calling the USDA with the info Joan Hobbs supplied. And I’ll be as civil and respectful as I can be.
They are God’s Creatures.
And we shall not kill and hurt, but show compassion and care.
Our life is short also, let us take the chance, do good, stop the violence (‘God is Love’) and support the vegan lifestyle.
He is the beginning and the end, one day we will die also.
I agree entirely with both of Robert B comments. The world today is too greedy, people can’t get enough. They want more.
I only buy cruelty free products.
Are we still experimenting on animals for perfume, cosmetics, deodorizers, etc. We don’t have enough fragrances yet, let’s torture and kill more innocent animals for the perfect smell. Sick SOBs all of them!
Thank you for all who help these cats and kittens.
But make these animal torturers unable to harm one more animal. This country can be so barbaric.
Give these kittens a home that is loving instead of euthanizing them. They deserve peace after what they have been through!!!
That would be wonderful! They all have to be saved Why on earth are they using animals? There are 100′ s of ways to test and experiment without using animals! No excuses! Save ALL CATS AND KITTENS!
How stupid, evil can they be? What was/is the purpose of this experiment? If the disease can be treated then why don’t they experiment on themselves. AND WHAT ABOUT THE BREEDER WHO SELLS THESE KITTENS TO THEM? HE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR KNOWINGLY SUBMITTING THESE KITTENS TO SUCH ABUSE AND TORTURE. Mankind can be and is the LOWEST LIFE FORM ON THIS PLANET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is good, but vivisection has to be STOPPED, NOW! It is the biggest fraud involving torture that is being funded by our taxes.
VIVISECTION OR SCIENCE: A CHOICE TO MAKE
http://www.pnc.com.au/~cafmr/online/research/croce1.html
Yes. The labs don’t want any of this animal testing to stop. They are getting huge contracts from the U.S. government paid by our taxes. I have a better idea, why don’t we empty out our prisons with violent offender that have committed heinous crimes. It would probably get them better testing results! And I am not joking! Animals are more precious than some of these prisoners.
Shut that death hole Iowan breeder down! Save the cats! !
Why do they need to test on animals in the first place? What is the complete story? Are the kittens given an antibiotic to determine if the dosage is effective for use in other animals, or in humans? What is done with the information? Is there any purpose to the collection & study of the feces? Why does this need to be repeated so ofter and on so many kittens? I imagine that there is little to no reason for this many animals being tested repeatedly.
Perhaps Congress should be asking some of these questions and putting a stop to the testing altogether.
But in the meantime, permitting adoption of the kittens is certainly better than merely killing them.
Judy – Vivisection is not necessary, and never has been. It is 18th century ignorance married to 21st century corruption. It’s been set up as the straw man to shield producers of toxic products from lawsuits filed by people who have been injured (and by family members of those killed) by their poison ingredients. It’s also a haven for sadists, who must be laughing up their sleeves, like they were caught doing in this video:
Unnecessary Fuss – YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdnYpJ9b_NY
WE CA NOT LET THE USDA REJECT THIS INCREDIBLY GENEROUS AND HEROIC OFFFER TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THESE CATS AND KITTENS.
CONGRESS- DO YOUR JOB AND PROTECT THEM FROM NEEDLESS IMMINENT DEATH AT THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE TORTURED AND EXPLOITED THEM ALL THEIR DAYS.
I will take one! we have 17 but 18 would be a nice even number!