Posted March 1, 2011 by Ray Harkins
Following PETA’s undercover investigation and an intense year-long campaign, the University of Utah (also known as “the U”) has announced that it will no longer purchase dogs and cats from North Utah Valley Animal Shelter (NUVAS)—or any other animal shelter—to be used in invasive and deadly experiments. Since the U was the last Utah purchaser of homeless animals for use in experiments, this victory means the complete end of “pound seizure” in the state of Utah!
PETA’s shocking investigation at the U in 2009 has prompted a sea change in the treatment of animals in Utah. Until then, public shelters were forced by law to sell animals to the U. Soon after we broke our case, the U was cited for nine violations of federal animal welfare laws, Utah legislators amended the state’s pound-seizure law so that government-run animal shelters could choose not to sell animals for experimentation, and the shelter that was then selling the most animals to the school ended the practice. A PETA lawsuit compelled a city to turn over records of the animals it sold to the U so that the public would know who these betrayed animals were. And who can forget Sheena, the loveable mutt whom PETA helped rescue from the U, where she would have gone under the knife, just in time for Christmas.
The U’s decision appears to have already pushed it to find more humane research methods. Instead of repeatedly forcing tubes down shelter cats’ throats in a cruel and crude intubation training course, the scheduled animal laboratory was recently canceled after PETA protests, and modern human-infant simulators were used instead.
Now, animals entering the state’s animal shelters will no longer be betrayed by those who should help them, and Utah residents with missing dogs or cats can at least know that if their beloved animal companions make it to a shelter, they won’t be sold to laboratories, where they would experience lives filled with suffering and grisly deaths.
A huge thank-you to all of you who asked the U and NUVAS to do the right thing by animals. This is a major victory, but there are still too many animals suffering in university laboratories—in Michigan, South Carolina, and Ohio and in both Dallas and Galveston, Texas, just to name a few. So please keep speaking up until every cage is empty.
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
I want to get into marketing but not have to rely on people which have different morals and worldviews than I do to hire me. While I'm figuring this out, I want to show everyone what I believe in and spur them into action against injustices.
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
Just keepin’ it real,
680 days ago
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ARRIBA PETAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! ARRIBA EL RESPETO POR LOS ANIMALES!!!!!!
693 days ago
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YESSSS!!!!!!!!!
<3 
:*
695 days ago
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This is AWESOME news! Well done everyone who put the pressure on these people to wake up and stop animal abuse. What a beautiful pup SHenna is too!
)))) Happy Days. WELL DONE!
705 days ago
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YEA FINALLY YOU MADE MY DAY. THANK YOU PETA FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR WHAT YOU DO TO HELP THESE POOR ANIMALS THAT WE ALL LOVE.
Patricia Stanley
707 days ago
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So glad to hear this!
752 days ago
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This is, about time and should never have taken place in the first place. As far as the article on “no justice for the dog killed by the U” the university and the individuals that committed that criminal act should be held responsible.
754 days ago
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that is awsomeeeeeeeeeeeee
794 days ago
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thx god
804 days ago
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WOOHOO!!!!! I am sooooo happy! my dog is smiling
805 days ago
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Grazie!
Tiziana
Italia
805 days ago
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WOOOOOT WOOOOT!! Thank goodness, the university shouldnt have done it in the beginning!
805 days ago
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FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!
805 days ago
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Great! Thanks PETA and everyone who has taken action!
805 days ago
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Yaaaaaay!
Im Soooo Happyyy!
806 days ago
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Thank the LORD!!! Thank Peta for a job well done. May all these animals now have the life they so rightly deseve.
People who are cruel to animals have no place on this earth. I wish I could have the opportunity to hand out some the evil behaviour they have bestowed on these beautiful creatures. I love to see them squirm.
807 days ago
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WOO-HOO!!!
for the animals i give lots of love!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 for the people who tortured them, …………………./'¯/)
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………./'/…/…./……./'¯
……..('(…'…'…. ¯~/'…')
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807 days ago
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YAY! So happy to hear this!!
807 days ago
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GRACIAS A DIOS!!! Y MUCHAS GRACIAS TAMBIEN A TODA ESA GENTE HERMOSA QUE LUCHA POR DEFENDER DÍA A DÍA LOS DERECHOS DE LOS ANIMALITOS!!! MI CORAZÓN REBOSA DE ALEGRÍA. DEMOSTREMOS QUE EXISTIMOS GENTE QUE DESEAMOS EL BIENESTAR DE LOS ANIMALES Y ROGAMOS TODOS LOS DÍAS PORQUE NO SUFRAN.
807 days ago
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YEH!!! Thank you!
807 days ago
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Thank you, all of you who objected to North Utah Valley Animal shelter and the University of Utah’s vile treatment of these animals and stopped these disturbed primitives.
807 days ago
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YAY! This is great news! I live really close to the U and it’s great to know they made the change!
807 days ago
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Thank you for helping these animals!!
808 days ago
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WOO HOO!!!!! THANK GOD! FINELLY THOSE BEAUTIFUL AND INOCENT ANIMALS ARE FREE FOR LIFE AND TO BE LOVED!!!!
TEN WOO HOOS FOR PETA!!!!!
WOO HOO! WOO HOO! WOO HOO! WOO HOO! WOO HOO! WOO HOO! WOO HOO! WOO HOO! WOO HOO! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
808 days ago
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Way to fight the power. I was very upset at hearing all the animals that were hurt as a result of that illegal and useless series of experiments. Im glad their activites were xposed and stopped. I hope they get sued back to the point of bankrupsy.
808 days ago
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VICTOIRE!!!
VICTORY!!!
808 days ago
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OMG i am so thankful that these poor animals are finally rescued from torture and death.
808 days ago
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My dog came from the pound! I saved her life! She came from Kentuckey!!
808 days ago
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Things like these are what makes me feel proud to be a Peta member.
808 days ago
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Thank you God. Not all of us humans are cruel and vicious.
I am curious if those ‘researchers’ from the ‘U’ go home at night and at bedtime tell their children how many poor, helpless animals they slaughtered that day to help them with their ‘humane’ research. No wonder so many children have nightmares. Why don’t those researchers have those nightmares? Or have they closed their minds to the horrible things they are doing to God’s other children. Hell has a special level just for these people, And when they get there, the first thing they’ll say is “Why am I being tortured? What harm did I do in my life?”
808 days ago
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Thanks for PETA who really care.
808 days ago
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Yay! I needed some good news today!
808 days ago
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wow.
808 days ago
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YES YES YES. This has to be the BEST news this week for me for my boring sorry life.
808 days ago
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WOOOO~HOOO!!!!!
HAAAAPY DANCE TIME!!!!!!!
NOW FOR ALLL THE REST OF THEM NEXT!!!!!!!!
GOD BLESS THESE ANIMALS!!!!!
808 days ago
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Oh Yes,,,now we’re talking! Glad to see we got a victory here….one for the good guys and the animals
808 days ago
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A great victory for all of us who believe in justice. The plight of any living creature is just as important as any other.These animal companions now have a chance at a peaceful life.No longer to be sold as raw material for the blood stained hands of vile vivisectors.
808 days ago
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I am so happyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy for these poor little angels we have to protected them no abuse them THANK YOUUUUUUUUU
808 days ago
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OOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
808 days ago
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Unfortunately for other animals there, they are still doing lethal research. I recently interviewed for a position that does lethal experiments on pigs and sheep. Needless to say I am not taking that position. There are experiments on lower campus with rats. There are experiments on upper campus on horses, cows, sheep, pigs, dogs, cats, rats, mice, fish, frogs, newts, and many others. I don’t think this has slowed them down. I am disgusted with my alma mater.
808 days ago
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yeesssssssss !!!!!!!!! wooo hoooooooo
809 days ago
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Woo hoo! Finally!!!! Lol
811 days ago
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jeeej
811 days ago
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Thank God.
814 days ago
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THREE CHEERS FOR ANIMALS AND PETA!
814 days ago
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YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To animal haters!
815 days ago
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This is SUCH a relief… honestly, it was so heartbreaking to know that people were doing this.
Really glad it’s over *-*
815 days ago
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OMG!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!