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Among our most significant achievements and activities, AAVS:
- Was part of a historical settlement between our affiliate, the Alternatives Research & Development Foundation (ARDF), and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) that would provide protection for the largest percentage of animals used in research-birds, mice, and
rats-under the federal Animal Welfare Act. USDA regulations had excluded these animals since 1970.
- Along with ARDF, effectively petitioned the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to change its policy and direct government funded
researchers to use non-animal methods as the 'default' method of producing monoclonal antibodies, which are used in essentially every
field of human and veterinary research. This will spare nearly a million animals each year from intense pain and suffering.
- Facilitated the introduction of legislation to the House of Representatives to establish a retirement sanctuary program for chimpanzees
used in federally-funded research.
- Was a founding member of the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), which promotes a single comprehensive standard and
an internationally recognized leaping bunny logo that insures all ingredients in a personal-care or household product meet the Corporate
Standard of Compassion for Animals.
- Established Animalearn, our innovative and resourceful education division, in 1990 to inform students and educators about non-animal
dissection alternatives and other issues related to humane education.
- Supported efforts to pass student choice laws nationwide; and we are particularly proud of our accomplishment in Pennsylvania, which
guarantees students the right to object to dissection.
- Successfully worked to have a patent on purposely sickened beagles who were to be used in drug testing experiments rescinded.
- Published a widely relied upon resource report entitled, Pet Cloning: Separating Facts From Fluff.
- Petitioned USDA to regulate cloned and genetically engineered animals resulting in USDA revising Policy #10 to extend some Animal Welfare Act
(AWA) protections to these animals.
- Is proud to host four campaign websites: www.Animalearn.org,
www.BanPoundSeizure.org,
www.StopAnimalPatents.org,
www.NoPetCloning.org.
Despite our remarkable progress, we face new challenges in the name of modern science. For example, millions of animals are used in novel genetic
engineering and xenotransplantation technologies that can cause tremendous suffering and death for the animals involved.
With your help, we will continue our efforts to maintain pressure on industry, academic institutions, government agencies, and the military to
eliminate their use of animals in research and instead adopt nonanimal alternative investigative methods.
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