Feds cite Fort Valley State for treatment of animals in veterinary department
The federal government cited Fort Valley State University for seven violations during an annual inspection of its veterinary service department last July.
A veterinary medical officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture wrote in her July 27 inspection that guinea pig and rabbit cages hadn’t been properly cleaned, eight dogs were housed in temporary cages that were too small for them and several rabbits and dogs hadn’t had their nails trimmed.
The report was filed in October and made public late last week. In it, veterinary medical officer Stephanie Maynard described a series of violations, including:
Long nails on rabbits and dogs
Two dogs with unidentified foot conditions
Eight dogs housed in temporary kennels that did not meet “minimum floor space and interior height requirement,” with two housed in enclosures of six square feet
Eight guinea pig cages with “excessive accumulation of feces” to the point where “there was nowhere free of feces for the guinea pigs to walk…”
Feces and pools of urine underneath rabbit enclosures
The report also indicated FVSU was missing required information from six teaching protocols. The USDA conducts inspections of animals used in research institutions under the 1966 Animal Welfare Act.
The university was required to remedy most of the issues within a few weeks.
In response to the USDA’s report, Fort Valley State University released a statement that it takes the welfare of its animals “very seriously.”
“The humane and responsible treatment of animals in our care is and has always been a priority,” the statement read. “We work closely with the USDA to ensure the health and welfare of the animals in our care. The USDA outlined its concerns from its visit in July, and we quickly addressed those concerns and continue to prioritize the care of our animals.”
