Michigan lawmakers Urged to Pass Bill Ending Painful Dog Experiments
A growing coalition of prominent figures, including Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright and his fiancée Carley Johnston, is urging Michigan lawmakers to pass a bill that would ban painful dog experiments at taxpayer-funded institutions.
The legislation, known as Queenie's Law, aims to prohibit public bodies from conducting research or training on dogs "in a manner that causes pain or distress." The bill has already garnered support from Wright and Johnston, who joined forces with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a medical ethics nonprofit organization.
Other high-profile supporters of the bill include Lions teammate Sam LaPorta, director Alison Eastwood, and Michigan actors Lily Tomlin and Ernie Hudson. The group argues that such experiments are unnecessary and inhumane, citing examples of surgeries performed on dogs without producing any meaningful results.
The National Institutes of Health has spent approximately $15 million on Wayne State University's canine research since 1991, with no usable outcomes, according to the Physicians Committee. Critics argue that dogs are subjected to painful procedures, such as having their chest cavities opened and devices implanted in their hearts, only to be killed after being used in experiments.
Wright and Johnston expressed their opposition to the experiments in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and House Speaker Matt Hall, stating that "anyone who has a dog at home would be shocked to learn of the deadly experiments occurring inside public labs." They argue that cutting-edge human-relevant research means there is no reason to harm and kill dogs to improve public health.
Supporters of Queenie's Law emphasize that alternatives, such as clinical trials, population studies, 3D organoids, and research using donated human organs, are already producing better results for patients. The group also points to the Texas Heart Institute's decision to stop using dogs in 2015 and Michigan State University's development of a functioning human heart model.
The bills have already cleared one hurdle in the House, with the House Regulatory Reform Committee voting overwhelmingly to advance HB 4254. However, opponents, including some research and business groups, argue that restrictions on animal studies could hinder biomedical research and harm Michigan's competitiveness.
As the push for Queenie's Law gains momentum, Wright and Johnston urge lawmakers to consider the moral implications of supporting painful dog experiments. They believe that if dogs are considered family in Michigan homes, they should not be treated as disposable tools in public labs.
A growing coalition of prominent figures, including Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright and his fiancée Carley Johnston, is urging Michigan lawmakers to pass a bill that would ban painful dog experiments at taxpayer-funded institutions.
The legislation, known as Queenie's Law, aims to prohibit public bodies from conducting research or training on dogs "in a manner that causes pain or distress." The bill has already garnered support from Wright and Johnston, who joined forces with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a medical ethics nonprofit organization.
Other high-profile supporters of the bill include Lions teammate Sam LaPorta, director Alison Eastwood, and Michigan actors Lily Tomlin and Ernie Hudson. The group argues that such experiments are unnecessary and inhumane, citing examples of surgeries performed on dogs without producing any meaningful results.
The National Institutes of Health has spent approximately $15 million on Wayne State University's canine research since 1991, with no usable outcomes, according to the Physicians Committee. Critics argue that dogs are subjected to painful procedures, such as having their chest cavities opened and devices implanted in their hearts, only to be killed after being used in experiments.
Wright and Johnston expressed their opposition to the experiments in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and House Speaker Matt Hall, stating that "anyone who has a dog at home would be shocked to learn of the deadly experiments occurring inside public labs." They argue that cutting-edge human-relevant research means there is no reason to harm and kill dogs to improve public health.
Supporters of Queenie's Law emphasize that alternatives, such as clinical trials, population studies, 3D organoids, and research using donated human organs, are already producing better results for patients. The group also points to the Texas Heart Institute's decision to stop using dogs in 2015 and Michigan State University's development of a functioning human heart model.
The bills have already cleared one hurdle in the House, with the House Regulatory Reform Committee voting overwhelmingly to advance HB 4254. However, opponents, including some research and business groups, argue that restrictions on animal studies could hinder biomedical research and harm Michigan's competitiveness.
As the push for Queenie's Law gains momentum, Wright and Johnston urge lawmakers to consider the moral implications of supporting painful dog experiments. They believe that if dogs are considered family in Michigan homes, they should not be treated as disposable tools in public labs.
and i think most people would agree with it, right? i mean who wants to see poor dogs suffering just for the sake of science 
. some ppl might say that it hampers research but i dont think so... i mean we already have all these other ways to do research that are way more humane. and btw $15 million on dog experiments since 1991 is like a lot of money... 
what else could be done with that? anyway, i think Queenie's Law should pass and make our state a bit better 
like what even is the point of this?! its all about saving humans but we gotta make sure animals aren't suffering too... i mean i get that research needs to happen but can't we think outside the box a bit more? 3d organoids and stuff already seem way more promising than just sticking needles in dogs' hearts 
I remember when they were doing those crazy experiments on dogs at Wayne State University... it's wild how much money was wasted 
$15 million is a lot of cash, right? 
. And now we're told to believe that these experiments are necessary for human health? 
? It's like, we're always talking about how we need to be kinder to animals, but when it comes down to it, we still prioritize scientific progress over their well-being 
. And what's with the opposition from those research groups? 
Can't they see that this is a moral issue? It's not just about science, it's about compassion 
come on people... like, we know dogs r more than just lab rats... or even pets... they got feelings too 
and btw, the NIH spent $15 million on Wayne State U's research w/ zero good comin out of it 
[Doge] I mean, come on 
, who thought it was a good idea to poke holes in puppies' chests? 
! It's crazy to think that we're still doing dog experiments that are so unnecessary and inhumane 
. Brock Wright and Carley Johnston are right on point - if we can't even treat our own furry friends with kindness and respect, how can we expect to make progress as a society?
. I mean, we've got all this new tech and research that's already showing promising results without needing to go through pain and suffering in dogs 
.
. We can make a difference, Michigan! Let's make Queenie's Law happen 
