Holding signs shaped like cats saying “Cats on speed, useless and cruel, shame on you OSU,” members from several animal rights groups gathered outside the Board of Trustees meeting Friday morning to protest the continuation of the Ohio State “Cats on Meth” research project.
“I have been protesting this for two years now. This morning I got here at 8,” said Lee Williams, member of Protect Our Earth’s Treasures.
The study that started in 2000 was originally titled Feline Model of Neuroaids and Drug Abuse. It was put on hold with the resignation of Dr. Michael Podell and has now been started under a new name of Psychostimulants and Lentiviral Infection of Neural Cell.
The study tests the effects of methamphetamine on the brains of cats infected with the feline immunodeficiency virus. The study began with the hope of finding a treatment for HIV.
“They infect the cats with FIV and then binge them on meth,” said Rob Russell, director of POET.
Protesting started again because the project took on a new name and is now headed by Dr. Lawrence E. Mathes, but is basically the same as before, Russell said.
The new project is supposed to be research in cell work, but the animal rights groups are outraged that it is beginning again, especially because of an e-mail sent from Earle Holland, director of research communications, to Dr. William Yonushonis, director of laboratory animals. It stated the project should continue so it did not look like the animal rights protesters had won, Russell said.
“He wants to use cats to do cell research; if he’s going to do cell work, do it without harming animals,” he said.
Forty-two cats were killed in the prior research, and protestors don’t want to see any more dead with the new project, Russell said.
“We are here to try to draw attention and to stop the harsh treatment of animals,” he said.
“It’s my first day on this protest, but I have disagreed with this study since I worked here,” said Dana Costin, former OSU employee and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals member.
“I don’t agree with the unnecessary cruelty to animals,” Costin said. “It gives money to OSU. That’s what it’s all about. Do they need a new building or something?”
