Detroit Lions Tight End Brock Wright and Fiancée Urge Michigan Lawmakers to Ban Painful Dog Experiments
A group of high-profile Michiganans, including Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright and his fiancée Carley Johnston, are urging the state's lawmakers to approve a bill that would ban painful dog experiments at taxpayer-funded institutions. The proposal, 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 legislation has already garnered support from several prominent Michigan natives, including teammate Sam LaPorta and actors Alison Eastwood and Lily Tomlin. Wright and Johnston joined forces with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a medical ethics nonprofit, to write a letter to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and House Speaker Matt Hall urging them to advance the proposal.
The group claims that Michigan taxpayers are funding cruel and invasive canine experiments at institutions like Wayne State University, which have produced no meaningful results. The National Institutes of Health has spent around $15 million on such research since 1991, according to the Physicians Committee.
"Dogs in Michigan's taxpayer-funded labs are lucky to have Brock and Carley on their side," said Ryan Merkley, the Physicians Committee's director of research advocacy. "Voters shouldn't be forced to pay for painful, dead-end experiments."
Supporters argue that the science is moving away from dog experiments, citing alternatives like clinical trials, population studies, 3D organoids, and research using donated human organs as producing better results for patients.
However, opponents have warned that restrictions on animal studies could hinder biomedical research and harm Michigan's competitiveness. They point to developments in other areas, such as the Texas Heart Institute's decision to stop using dogs in 2015.
The bills are named after Queenie, a stray dog from Gratiot County that was subjected to months of heart failure experiments before being killed at Wayne State University. Wright and Johnston view the issue as personal as much as it is political, arguing that dogs should not be treated as disposable tools in public labs if they are considered family.
As the push for Queenie's Law gains momentum, lawmakers will need to weigh the potential benefits of banning painful dog experiments against concerns about hindering biomedical research.
A group of high-profile Michiganans, including Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright and his fiancée Carley Johnston, are urging the state's lawmakers to approve a bill that would ban painful dog experiments at taxpayer-funded institutions. The proposal, 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 legislation has already garnered support from several prominent Michigan natives, including teammate Sam LaPorta and actors Alison Eastwood and Lily Tomlin. Wright and Johnston joined forces with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a medical ethics nonprofit, to write a letter to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and House Speaker Matt Hall urging them to advance the proposal.
The group claims that Michigan taxpayers are funding cruel and invasive canine experiments at institutions like Wayne State University, which have produced no meaningful results. The National Institutes of Health has spent around $15 million on such research since 1991, according to the Physicians Committee.
"Dogs in Michigan's taxpayer-funded labs are lucky to have Brock and Carley on their side," said Ryan Merkley, the Physicians Committee's director of research advocacy. "Voters shouldn't be forced to pay for painful, dead-end experiments."
Supporters argue that the science is moving away from dog experiments, citing alternatives like clinical trials, population studies, 3D organoids, and research using donated human organs as producing better results for patients.
However, opponents have warned that restrictions on animal studies could hinder biomedical research and harm Michigan's competitiveness. They point to developments in other areas, such as the Texas Heart Institute's decision to stop using dogs in 2015.
The bills are named after Queenie, a stray dog from Gratiot County that was subjected to months of heart failure experiments before being killed at Wayne State University. Wright and Johnston view the issue as personal as much as it is political, arguing that dogs should not be treated as disposable tools in public labs if they are considered family.
As the push for Queenie's Law gains momentum, lawmakers will need to weigh the potential benefits of banning painful dog experiments against concerns about hindering biomedical research.
I'm all for animal welfare, but is this really a necessary bill? Can't we just look into more humane alternatives instead of outright banning something? 
It's great that Brock and Carley are using their platform to raise awareness, but let's not jump on the bandwagon without considering all sides. Sources: Where exactly do these $15 million experiments lead to? What kind of concrete results can we expect from Queenie's Law? 
. Can't we just have a simple discussion without all the extra drama? Anyway, back to Brock Wright and Carley Johnston's initiative... it's actually kind of cool that they're using their platform to make a difference 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to see those painful dog experiments banned? It's time for us to take responsibility as taxpayers and ensure our money isn't being wasted on cruel research 
. On the other hand, I'm not sure if we should be worried about the impact on biomedical research... there gotta be better ways to fund it without animal testing 
. I mean, I get why Brock Wright and his fiancée are fighting for this bill, they've got a good reason to be upset about Queenie's story. But at the same time, some scientists might be like "hold up, we need these experiments to find new treatments for diseases"... it's a tough one 
. I mean, we've got all these other ways to study stuff now, why are we still using dogs for some experiments? 
. So yeah, I'm all for Queenie's Law and making Michigan a more compassionate place 
.
. I mean, can you imagine if they were in a lab getting poked and prodded just to help humans? It's just not right 
. And the fact that our tax dollars are paying for it is even more disturbing 
. But hey, it's great to see some high-profile people using their platforms to make a difference 
. It's time to say goodbye to those painful dog experiments and hello to more humane research methods 
It's time for us to step up our game and treat those furry friends with some respect. Plus, it's not like Brock and Carley are being too pushy or anything... they just want what's right, you know? 
like what if their pup was in a lab and got hurt or something?! and ppl r saying it's all about the science but like can't we find other ways to help ppl without hurting animals?