Campaign success in Düsseldorf
Cologne. The nationwide association Doctors Against Animal Experiments is very pleased that two dogs are at the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf (HHU) are no longer used in animal experiments, were released. At the same time, the sobering number of over 81,000 animals that were killed in animal experiments at the HHU in 2023 is coming to light.
In 2018, HHU ended its dog trials, which mainly took place in the field of dentistry. 24 beagles and foxhounds survived the experiments. The animals were then kept exclusively indoors with a run on the roof, with absolutely no stimuli and contrary to the needs of dogs. Six years later, only four dogs remained alive. Some had died, the whereabouts of others are unclear.
When these grievances became known, numerous actions and protests began in 2023. In fact, 'Doctors Against Animal Experiments' and fellow activists on site were able to ensure that those responsible for the animal testing laboratory allowed the Düsseldorf animal shelter to place two of the four dogs in a suitable home.
For a long time, the HHU maintained the keeping of the dogs, arguing that this was good and in the interests of the dogs. Placing it in private hands after such a long time was called irresponsible. However, even though the two dogs are very old at ten years old and have lived in this laboratory since birth, getting used to their new home was uncomplicated. The animals were finally able to leave the laboratory on November 6th and went straight into their new family, which they met with open-minded and curious minds.
“This gives hope that the path to releasing the last two dogs and other animals that survive animal experiments will now be easier in Düsseldorf,” says Eva Nimtschek from the Doctors Against Animal Experiments association, who followed the months-long process.
Although there is great joy about this first positive step, the medical association also points out the other demands of the campaign: The goal is to switch to exclusively animal-free research and teaching at the HHU Düsseldorf and to establish a chair for animal-free technologies. Because animal testing is no longer the gold standard as it is taught to students. Rather, it is demonstrably the new, modern, animal-free methods that lead to meaningful findings in the areas of disease development and therapy development.
The medical association also demands that the HHU make the animal numbers transparent. The number of so-called surplus animals is still kept secret. These are animals that are not included in the experiment because of their age or because they are of the wrong gender and are killed. According to their own research, 'Doctors Against Animal Experiments' come to an alarming total of over 81,000 animals. This number includes animals used in the following categories in 2023: Animal testing (although most animals die here), killed, for example, for organ removal and “surplus animals”.
The financial resources that flow into animal experiments are also not mentioned, which the association sharply criticizes since most of it is public tax money.
“Our protests and information campaigns on site in Düsseldorf and directly on campus will continue and conversations will continue to be sought: for the animals and for meaningful, human-related science,” Nimtschek concluded.
More information
“Let the dogs free” campaign: information and online petition at www.lasstdiehundefrei.de.