Michigan lawmakers urged to approve ban on painful dog experiments in taxpayer-funded institutions.
A group of Michigan's top sports figures and celebrities are urging the state legislature to pass legislation banning painful canine experiments in taxpayer-funded institutions. The push for a bill dubbed "Queenie's Law" comes as renewed attention is focused on the issue, sparked by a billboard campaign in Lansing and Detroit featuring a beagle with the message: "$15 Million Wasted on Wayne State’s Dog Experiments? ENOUGH. Pass Queenie’s Law!"
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright and his fiancée Carley Johnston are among those calling for action, as well as director and actress Alison Eastwood. The trio penned letters to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and House Speaker Matt Hall urging them to advance the proposal.
Queenie's Law would prohibit public bodies, including universities in Michigan from conducting research or training on dogs "in a manner that causes pain or distress." Two bills, HB 4254 and SB 127, have been introduced with this aim. The bills' supporters argue that they are necessary because Michigan taxpayers are helping bankroll cruel experiments without producing meaningful results.
Critics of the bills point out that these experiments could hinder biomedical research and harm Michigan's competitiveness. However, proponents counter that modern science is moving away from animal testing, citing alternatives such as clinical trials, population studies, 3D organoids, and human-based methods.
The issue has already garnered significant support from various groups and individuals, including high-profile actors Lily Tomlin and Ernie Hudson. The latest round of advocacy comes on the heels of a similar push by Lions teammate Sam LaPorta and his wife Callie.
Proponents like Wright and Johnston argue that it's unjust to treat dogs as disposable tools in public labs when they are considered family members in Michigan homes. They also point to the closure of the last in-house beagle lab by the National Institutes of Health, a major step toward replacing animal research with human-based methods.
A group of Michigan's top sports figures and celebrities are urging the state legislature to pass legislation banning painful canine experiments in taxpayer-funded institutions. The push for a bill dubbed "Queenie's Law" comes as renewed attention is focused on the issue, sparked by a billboard campaign in Lansing and Detroit featuring a beagle with the message: "$15 Million Wasted on Wayne State’s Dog Experiments? ENOUGH. Pass Queenie’s Law!"
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright and his fiancée Carley Johnston are among those calling for action, as well as director and actress Alison Eastwood. The trio penned letters to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and House Speaker Matt Hall urging them to advance the proposal.
Queenie's Law would prohibit public bodies, including universities in Michigan from conducting research or training on dogs "in a manner that causes pain or distress." Two bills, HB 4254 and SB 127, have been introduced with this aim. The bills' supporters argue that they are necessary because Michigan taxpayers are helping bankroll cruel experiments without producing meaningful results.
Critics of the bills point out that these experiments could hinder biomedical research and harm Michigan's competitiveness. However, proponents counter that modern science is moving away from animal testing, citing alternatives such as clinical trials, population studies, 3D organoids, and human-based methods.
The issue has already garnered significant support from various groups and individuals, including high-profile actors Lily Tomlin and Ernie Hudson. The latest round of advocacy comes on the heels of a similar push by Lions teammate Sam LaPorta and his wife Callie.
Proponents like Wright and Johnston argue that it's unjust to treat dogs as disposable tools in public labs when they are considered family members in Michigan homes. They also point to the closure of the last in-house beagle lab by the National Institutes of Health, a major step toward replacing animal research with human-based methods.