SACRAMENTO, California, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) and a team of celebrities have joined Cruelty Free International in urging the U.S and Canadian governments to protect stray and shelter dogs being used in experiments and education, as part of a global campaign to end the use of dogs in research. The initiative, which has also received support from actors Seth Gilliam (The Walking Dead), Lou Diamond Phillips (La Bamba) and Danny Trejo (Breaking Bad), and Cruelty Free International Global Ambassador and international superstar violinist Vanessa-Mae, will bring the issue to the attention of governments and educational bodies globally.
Stray and shelter dogs are suffering in laboratories and educational facilities worldwide, including in the U.S and Canada, where they can still be used in experiments and for harmful teaching practices at veterinary schools.
According to new opinion polls carried out by YouGov1 on behalf of Cruelty Free International, the issue raises strong public concern. 68% of American adults and 73% of Canadian adults agree that dogs found or given to animal shelters should not be sold to laboratories for experiments.
Michelle Thew, CEO of Cruelty Free International says: "Treating dogs as disposable research commodities or teaching tools with no regard for their lives is wrong. We urge the US and Canadian governments to protect all shelter dogs by implementing legislation to finally put an end to this practice."
Eric McCormack said: "Shelter dogs should be adopted into loving homes not used in cruel experiments. That's why I support the Cruelty Free International global dog campaign."
NOTES
Campaign: https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/straydogs
Photos: https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/straydogscelebs
1) All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,107 adults for the US and 1,000 adults for Canada. Fieldwork was undertaken between 16th-17th February 2016 for the US, and 12th-21st February 2016 for Canada. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US and Canadian adults (aged 18+).
2) Cruelty Free International is one of the world's longest standing and most respected animal protection organisations. It is widely regarded as an authority on animal testing issues and called upon by governments, media, corporations and official bodies for advice or expert opinion. www.crueltyfreeinternational.org
For information or quotes, contact Monica Engebretson: [email protected] / telephone: +1-916-800-5735
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160601/374471
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150121/726834
SOURCE Cruelty Free International
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