After U researchers finish testing drugs on cats, dogs and other animals, members of an adoption program try to find homes for them.
The U’s Dog and Cat Adoption Program organized a fundraiser on Thursday to help retired research pets find adoptive families.
The annual Paws N’ Claws Holiday Bazaar raised money at the Eccles Institute of Human Genetics.
Linda Schmidt, a coordinator of the fundraiser, said the holiday bazaar is the adoption program’s main fundraiser of the year. All of the money raised from the event goes toward the care and placement of the animals.
Schmidt has been involved with the adoption program for many years and said she is very passionate about the cause.
“The (adoption program) started with people who wanted to help the animals,” Schmidt said. “(Altogether), about 600 dogs and 180 cats have been adopted (since the early 1990s).”
The fundraiser featured a variety of items for sale, including jewelry, baked goods and dog products. Local artisans sold their products at the event and donated a portion of their proceeds to the cause.
Kim Thompson, a Sandy resident, sold jewelry at the fundraiser. She said it was her first year at the event but she is already impressed with the work the adoption program does.
“I believe in what they’re doing,” Thompson said. “It’s an awesome cause. Whatever (I) can do to move it along, I am happy to support.”
Besides fundraising, many pets were adopted right at the event.
Jessica Frost, a Davis County resident, came to the event on a whim and ended up adopting a beagle.
“I just walked in, and I thought he was so cute,” Frost said.
Schmidt said she is pleased animals were adopted at the event and urged more people to consider adopting retired research pets.
“It goes back to the (animal) overpopulation problem we have,” Schmidt said. “What better pet to (own) than a retired research pet?”
Schmidt said most of the animals used in U research projects are there for six months to a year. The pets are adopted throughout the year. The research conducted on the animals is not cruel or unethical, Schmidt said.
Jeremy Beckham, a senior history major who participated in animal-rights activist protests during the summer, has an alternate opinion and said many animals don’t make it out of research alive.
“Animal research involves a lot of suffering,” Beckham said. “I think the adoption program is a good thing for the animals that make it out of the research. Other animals are not able to get adopted because they are too sick.”
Beckham is actively involved in the U’s Student Organization for Animal Rights.
Schmidt said researchers have strict protocols they have to follow to test on animals. The ultimate goal of the fundraiser and the adoption program is to use fewer animals for research.
“If we adopt more (animals) out, less will be used in research,” Schmidt said.
Anna KartashovaThe Annual Paws N? Claws Holiday Bazaar held their fundraiser Thursday to help find homes for retired research animals