The controversial practice of using live dogs for practice student surgeries and then euthanizing the canines will end beginning this fall at Michigan State University.
Animal rights groups hailed MSU's decision to join most of the nation's 28 vet schools that have stopped so-called terminal surgery. Mitch Goldsmith, an MSU junior and animal rights activist, said the practice is "needless cruelty."
Live dogs -- bought from breeders -- are anesthetized during surgery and when they are euthanized, officials said.
Bryden Stanley, professor of animal surgery, said using live dogs was "something that nobody really likes to do," but was necessary because "our primary responsibility is to train competent surgeons."
Instruction with cadavers and surgical models now offers an acceptable alternative, she said.
Veterinary training in terminal surgery, which concludes with euthanasia, has been the target of animal rights groups, and of objections from some vet students at MSU and elsewhere. The group Animalearn praised MSU's decision Thursday. Most of the nation's 28 veterinary schools no longer require terminal surgery as part of their curriculum.
The animals used in training at MSU were anesthetized before surgery and painlessly euthanized afterward, Stanley said.
Vet school spokeswoman Linda Chadderdon said the university used only "purpose bred" animals for surgical training, not dogs from pounds or former pets. Chadderdon said about 140 dogs died in the program last year.
Training with live animals that does not require euthanasia, most commonly spaying and neutering, will increase at MSU, she said.
Terminal surgery was dropped at Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine more than three years ago, spokeswoman Melissa Weber said, largely because veterinary students have become increasingly uncomfortable with it. OSU is developing a computer simulation program which Weber said will mimic surgery on living animals.
Did you know this was occurring???
Animal rights groups hailed MSU's decision to join most of the nation's 28 vet schools that have stopped so-called terminal surgery. Mitch Goldsmith, an MSU junior and animal rights activist, said the practice is "needless cruelty."
Live dogs -- bought from breeders -- are anesthetized during surgery and when they are euthanized, officials said.
Bryden Stanley, professor of animal surgery, said using live dogs was "something that nobody really likes to do," but was necessary because "our primary responsibility is to train competent surgeons."
Instruction with cadavers and surgical models now offers an acceptable alternative, she said.
Veterinary training in terminal surgery, which concludes with euthanasia, has been the target of animal rights groups, and of objections from some vet students at MSU and elsewhere. The group Animalearn praised MSU's decision Thursday. Most of the nation's 28 veterinary schools no longer require terminal surgery as part of their curriculum.
The animals used in training at MSU were anesthetized before surgery and painlessly euthanized afterward, Stanley said.
Vet school spokeswoman Linda Chadderdon said the university used only "purpose bred" animals for surgical training, not dogs from pounds or former pets. Chadderdon said about 140 dogs died in the program last year.
Training with live animals that does not require euthanasia, most commonly spaying and neutering, will increase at MSU, she said.
Terminal surgery was dropped at Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine more than three years ago, spokeswoman Melissa Weber said, largely because veterinary students have become increasingly uncomfortable with it. OSU is developing a computer simulation program which Weber said will mimic surgery on living animals.
Did you know this was occurring???