SNBL USA is one of the largest a contract testing organizations in the country. They are in the business of animal cruelty - conducting animal experiments for businesses such as Pfizer, Inc and Eli Lilly. On January 31, 2008 KIRO 7 broke an investigation that revealed horrible animal suffering at the Everett facility (They also have a facility in Alice TX). In one case, a female monkey was scalded to death during a 20 minute wash cycle inside of a searing hot 180 degree cage washer. Whistle blowers have also alleged that monkeys are sprayed with acid, dropped on their heads and that when monkeys are not fed or cared for as required by law, employees are required to fake entries in official records.

To read these stories see:
KIRO TV
KIRO TV
Seattle Times

These new allegations come on top of a horrible history of citations from the U.S. Department of agriculture in recent years:

- SNBL failed to minimize the pain and discomfort of animals who were injected with toxic substances. - SNBL was cited with multiple failures to provide adequate veterinary care.

- Twenty monkeys had to be euthanized or otherwise died during one three-week period. Records for these individuals noted that they were weak and emaciated and that they suffered major injuries because of fighting yet did not receive veterinary care.

- The facility kept monkeys in cages that did not meet the AWA's minimum size requirements.

- The committee that approves and monitors experiments at SNBL, the institutional animal care and use committee, received scathing remarks for violating the Animal Welfare Act. An inspector from the USDA once reported that actions of the committee lacked "medical or scientific justification," which in turn contributed to high rates of illness, injury and death at the facility.

The SNBL Everett facility has undergone a massive expansion in recent years and has thousands of monkeys. SNBL is one of the top three importers of monkeys in the entire country, falling behind only Covance and Charles River. SNBL has also acquired a monkey farm in Cambodia, a country which didn't export a single primate only a few years ago.

SNBL is unquestionably a hell for monkeys and other animals used in cruel tests. They should be held accountable by the USDA and local officials.

Contact he USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (Animal Welfare Act violations) here:

Western Region Mailing Address:
USDA/APHIS/AC
2150 Centre Ave.
Building B, Mailstop 3W11
Fort Collins, CO 80526-8117
E-mail: acwest@aphis.usda.gov
Phone: (970) 494-7478
Fax: (970) 494-7461

Write to local officials to support felony animal cruelty investigation, here:
Ms. Janis Ellis
Prosecuting Attorney
Snohomish County
3000 Rockefeller, Mail Stop 504
Everett WA 98201

And of course, writing letters to the editor is another excellent way to keep this story in the public eye.

If you would like to help participate in any protests or other actions against SNBL, please contact Rachel at rachelb@narn.org