TUCSON, Ariz. (April 22, 2025) — On Monday, April 21, In Defense of Animals and Tucson-based animal rights group Supporting and Promoting Ethics for the Animal Kingdom (SPEAK) took a stand against extreme animal cruelty at the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine. The demonstration was in support of World Week for Animal In Laboratories (WWAIL). Activists held signs and displayed banners on the sidewalk next to a busy street. 

From brain-mapping experiments on primates to surgical training procedures on pigs, the University of Arizona has been involved in extremely cruel animal experiments despite the availability of alternatives, including in vitro studies, computer modeling, and advanced imaging techniques. Failures by University Animal Care include inadequate training and carelessness in the handling of animals, causing injury and death. Years ago, a primate named Pepe was the victim of a botched cranial surgical procedure. 

Non-animal research methods are more reliable, ethical, and cost-effective. In honor of WWAIL, In Defense of Animals is urging authorities and decision-makers at the University of Arizona to end the use of animals in research, invest in modern alternatives, and align with their values of innovation and progress by adopting humane and more effective research methods. 

An In Defense of Animals’ action alert calling on the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and the University of Massachusetts to end animal experimentation has over 11,000 supporters so far. 

“We are calling on the University of Arizona to put an end to its extremely cruel and invasive experiments on innocent animals,” said Brittany Michelson, Campaign Specialist for Captive Animals at In Defense of Animals. “It’s time for animal experimentation to be fully replaced with non-animal methods which align with progressive, modern, innovative, and humane values.” 

The university already has access to the state-of-the-art Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center and could immediately end the use of live animals for its surgery residency. 

Images and video: https://bit.ly/WWAILArizona

CONTACT: In Defense of Animals, Brittany Michelson, brittany@idausa.org, 928-420-0727

In Defense of Animals is an international animal rescue and protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 40-year history of defending animals, the environment, and their guardians through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, rural Mississippi and California. www.idausa.org

Tucson-based SPEAK (Supporting and Promoting Ethics for the Animal Kingdom) is proud to be Arizona's first animal rights organization. The organization addresses animal protection issues on every level: local, statewide, regional, national, and international. Speak’s mission to create a more cruelty-free world for animals involves a twofold approach: educational efforts coupled with active resistance to any form of animal abuse. www.facebook.com/speaktucson

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