Fury over plan to kill six dogs as part of lab experiment testing dental implants in Sweden
- Six two-year-old Labradors are to be euthanized in around two weeks in Sweden
- Over a third of the dogs’ teeth have been removed to test dental implants
- The dogs will be killed at the University of Gothenburg as the research finishes
- Despite a petition with more than 80,000 signatures the killings will go ahead
Six Labradors will be killed at the end of a medical trial testing dental implants on the dogs at a Swedish laboratory.
The two-year-old animals will be killed at the University of Gothenburg so that researchers can continue to test how the implants alter bone and tissue.
As part of the testing, each of the black Labradors have had more than a third of their teeth extracted and replaced with implants.
The Djurrättsalliansen (Animal Rights Alliance) is trying to prevent Venus, Milia, Mimosa, Luna, Lotus and Zuri being killed at the end of their treatment.
The dogs at the University of Gotheburg are to be killed at the end of the research. File photo of three Labradors
The Local reported Göran Landberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research at the university, as saying: ‘It’s difficult for us to reach a consensus on these issues, but dialogue is important.
‘As we see it, animal experiments are still needed in some kinds of research, to develop new medicines and treatment methods and gain basic knowledge.’
More than 80,000 people have signed the petition put forward by the Animal Rights Alliance.
One vet told Swedish TV that the dogs would be ’emotionally broken’ by their treatment (file photo of a black Labrador)
But the chairman of the organisation has said that despite the signatures ‘in two weeks they will be killed’ the Harliga Hund reported.
The case has drawn outcry in Swedish media, with a vet called Mark Collins recently speaking on TV4 to deplore the treatment of the dogs.
Mr Collins said ‘I do not understand at all’ – he described how removing a Labrador’s teeth requires great force and would put them in substantial pain.
He added that because of the close bond they have with humans the treatment they have received would leave the dogs ’emotionally broken.’
Under Swedish regulations animal testing is allowed only if researchers can prove it is the only way to obtain the information.
The university have received this approval and say that the research is being carried out by a highly qualified team, which includes vets.
But the Animal Rights Alliance allege in their investigation they uncovered notes relating to the pup called Venus which revealed she was being treated for ‘lying sores on her elbows.’
They also said the dog was being kept in a cold room.
Dogs were selected for the dental tests because of the similarity between their saliva and oral bacteria and that of humans.