Fifty former laboratory rats are looking for forever homes as part of a unique rehoming project sponsored by New Zealand’s largest university.
In New Zealand, around 300,000 animals were used for research, testing and teaching each year. Thousands were killed — some never having been needed for tests.
The New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS) and the University of Auckland launched the adoption programme on Wednesday to coincide with World Day for Animals in Labs.
The scientific community were aligned on the issue of animals being used for science, said the university’s animal welfare officer Jodi Salinsky.
“Scientists would not choose to use animals in research if they believed that there were alternative ways that were widely accepted, accessible and validated by the scientific community.”
The society would lobby the National-led coalition Government to allocate funding for animal-free research and for rehoming of animals used and bred for science.
Until the programme was funded, the rehoming project would be fuelled by donations.
Tara Jackson, executive director at the Anti-Vivisection Society, said giving an animal used or bred for science a “forever home” was an incredible act of kindness.
“We are delighted that the University of Auckland is showing real leadership in the science community by working with us to ensure that as many animals as possible are rehomed in Auckland.”
Jackson said there would be “animals aplenty” to rehome until a New Zealand government committed to funding the programme.
“If more Aucklanders can find it in their hearts to open their home to rats who have started off in science, then they will not only instantly bolster the IQ rating of their household — thanks to how smart rats are — but will be amazed at how loving, easily trained, and playful these animals really are!”