Auckland rat lovers unite! | Scoop news

Today (24/04/24), on World Day for Laboratory Animals, NZAVS is launching a new program to rehome rats bred or used for science at the University of Auckland.

This unique rat rehoming program will help meet a huge need in New Zealand for the animal science and research community and the animals they use.

The motivation for the partnership between NZAVS (Aotearoa’s only charity 100% committed to ending animal testing) and the University of Auckland may seem strange to some; a research institute that partners with a charity whose mission is to eventually replace the use of animals in experiments, but Dr. Jodi Salinsky, Animal Welfare Officer at the University of Auckland explains:

“New Zealand’s scientific community is on the same page when it comes to using animals for research, testing and education: no one wants to use animals for these purposes. Scientists would not choose to use animals in research if they believed there were alternative ways to do so. were widely accepted, accessible and validated by the scientific community.”

“NZAVS works hard to collaborate with institutions across Aotearoa dealing with any aspect of the use of animals for scientific purposes. Members of the New Zealand scientific community are beginning to recognize that with greater openness and collaboration with forward-thinking organizations like NZAVS, there will be faster and more positive results, including the opportunity to replace the use of animals in science where possible.”

NZAVS has helped members of the animal science and research community to lobby the last government and will now lobby the National Coalition-led coalition government to catch up with other countries by (1) allocating funding for the use and the development of non-animal research, testing and educational methods, and (2) the provision of funding for the rehoming of animals used and bred for science.

Until the National-led Government allocates this crucial funding, this life-saving rat rehoming program will be fueled by donations from NZAVS supporters and the compassionate Aucklanders who will selflessly provide the ‘forever homes’ these rats so desperately need.

Miss Tara Jackson, Executive Director of NZAVS, says:

“To give an animal, used or bred for science in New Zealand, a real chance to live a good life in a ‘forever home’ is an incredible act of kindness. We are pleased that the University of Auckland is showing real leadership in the science community by working with us to ensure as many animals as possible are rehomed in Auckland.”

“Until a New Zealand government commits to what NZAVS and the scientific community want, we have plenty of animals to rehome and have the opportunity to be loved and live in permanent homes.”

“If more Aucklanders can find it in their hearts to open their homes to rats (since rats should never be alone) who started out in science, they will not only immediately increase the IQ rating of their household, thanks to the way which are smart rats, but will be surprised at how loving, easy to train and playful these animals really are!”

Today, NZAVS is looking for 50 forever homes for rats and more than 50 rat lifesavers to join a rat-saving ‘waiting list’. Sign up here. NZAVS has also helped rehome rabbits, sheep, zebra finches and pigeons bred or used for science at the University of Auckland.

Having willing homes is always hugely welcomed by the charity and the University of Auckland. Donations from anyone who cherishes both animals and science are appreciated as this enables the work of NZAVS to increasingly collaborate with the scientific community to help find solutions to the problem of animals used in science.

Remark: In New Zealand, approximately 300,000 animals are used for research, testing and education each year. Thousands of these animals are killed, and thousands of additional animals bred for science but never used are also killed.

There are currently no rules in New Zealand requiring institutions that use animals for science to rehome them where possible, even if animals were bred for science and never used. This results in the death of thousands of healthy animals every year.

The number of animals bred for science that were never used and subsequently killed has been monitored by the New Zealand government since 2019:

– 2019: 159,149

– 2020: 149,496

– 2021: 178,569

During these three years, 487,214 animals were bred for science, never used and killed.

The University of Auckland is currently the only institution in New Zealand willing to regularly rehome animals to NZAVS.

The University of Auckland was an early signatory to the 2021 Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in NZ and is committed to increasing communication about animal research. While the University believes that the carefully regulated and judicious use of animals in research and education is still essential to discoveries to improve the health and welfare of humans and animals, protect the environment and make an essential contribution to understanding biological processes, it is committed to advancing the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (3Rs). This includes continually improving animal care and welfare standards, using as few animals as possible and using animals only when necessary.

NZAVS is working to end animal testing and the harmful use of animals for science in New Zealand due to the many associated ethical and scientific issues. Based on the research (https://nzavs.org.nz/animal-testing-failure-rate) that NZAVS conducted, the use of animals to model human outcomes in research and testing is unreliable.

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