A local prosecutor and the company's president are now taking a close look.
In one scene of the video released Wednesday by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a beagle cowers in the corner of its cage as a person approaches, derisively describing the dog's condition before snatching it by the back of the neck: "They act like they've been abused."
Another clip shows an employee at Professional Laboratory and Research Services Inc. purposely letting a cat grasp a fence with its claw before yanking it in an apparent attempt to rip off its nails, according to PETA's account of the video. In another portion, a caretaker drops a dog back to the ground before pushing it into the cage with a foot. Another scene shows a dog squirming through a tooth removal as workers acknowledge that the sedation drug is a couple years past its expiration and may not be working very well.
Helen Sonenshine, the company president who is not involved in day-to-day operations, confirmed that the video was taken at the company's facility and included footage of company employees. Officials were reviewing the footage, and Sonenshine said the company will fire anyone if they have done anything contrary to protocols on how to treat animals.
"I am disgusted. I am appalled," she said after viewing the clips. "This is not what we're about. We're about the health of the animals."
USDA inspections show no sign of recent violations.
PETA referred videos, photos and a narrative to local prosecutors. District Attorney Frank Parrish said his office is reviewing the report and will follow up with further investigation to determine whether or not criminal charges should be filed.
"We will certainly be very thorough about looking at these issues," he said.
The company, with a facility in Corapeake, N.C. near the Virginia border, is hired by pharmaceutical firms to test animal care products such as flea preventatives. PETA said that one of its investigators was hired as an animal caretaker and worked from December 2009 until this month.
The worker and video depict squalid conditions of animals living in their own excrement. PETA contends that workers sprayed the animals with harsh chemicals, lifted rabbits by their ears and puppies by their throats, and violently threw cats into their cages.
PETA believes the company violated several parts of The Animal Welfare act, including improper veterinary care, improper handling of animals and improper cleaning procedures. It has filed or plans to file complaints with both regulatory agencies and law enforcement.
"Violence seems to be the guiding principle at this laboratory," said Kathy Guillermo, vice president of laboratory investigations at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "The only time the animals get some attention is when something painful or invasive is done to them."
The animal rights group also complained about the testing procedures used at the site. Workers at the facility grew ticks on the rabbits even though PETA says there are non-animal methods that have been in use for years.
"There's simply no excuse," Guillermo said.
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