The Environmental Protection Agency's recent decision to cut down on animal testing has led to a unique adoption program where employees can foster lab rats and zebra fish. This initiative aims to rehome the animals previously used in research and comes as part of broader government cuts to scientific work.
E.P.A. Employees Offered Chance to Adopt Lab Animals as Agency Restructures
E.P.A. Employees Offered Chance to Adopt Lab Animals as Agency Restructures
As the Environmental Protection Agency scales back its animal testing operations, staff members at the North Carolina campus are invited to adopt lab rats and zebra fish, ensuring their continued care.
In a notable shift within the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.), employees working at the agency's North Carolina research campus are now being encouraged to adopt lab rats and zebra fish, previously used for chemical toxicity testing. This move is in response to the agency's decision to shut down its research segment amid significant reductions to government scientific funding, initiated during the Trump administration.
Sources familiar with the situation report that the E.P.A.'s Research Triangle Park facility housed a variety of animals, with the majority being fish and fish larvae. With an urgent need for alternative homes, the agency has established an adoption program allowing its employees to take these critters home as pets. Promotional posters dotted around the campus encourage staff to partake in this endeavor, boldly proclaiming, "Adopt love. Save a life."
An email from Maureen R. Gwinn, the acting assistant administrator of E.P.A.’s Office of Research and Development, confirmed the commencement of this adoption initiative, although it noted that applications are presently on hold as the agency evaluates the adoption criteria. Staff members were informed that approximately 20,000 animals were involved in the E.P.A. research programs. Recently, two rabbits remained on-site, but they too have been successfully adopted out, leaving the focus on rehoming the rats and fish.
This unique program illustrates the impact of government policies on scientific research practices and highlights the importance of ethical treatment of animals in research environments. As the agency undergoes significant changes, the future of animal testing at the E.P.A. may continue to evolve, but the priority remains on finding loving homes for these lab animals.
