Actor Eric McCormack, perhaps best known for playing lawyer Will Truman in the hit TV show ‘Will & Grace’, and a team of celebrities have joined Cruelty Free International in urging the U.S and Canadian governments to protect stray and shelter dogs being used in experiments and education, as part of a global campaign to end the use of dogs in research.
The initiative, which has also received support from actors Seth Gilliam (‘The Walking Dead’), Lou Diamond Phillips (‘La Bamba’) and Danny Trejo (‘Breaking Bad’), and Cruelty Free International Global Ambassador and international superstar violinist Vanessa-Mae, will bring the issue to the attention of governments and educational bodies globally.
Stray and shelter dogs are suffering in laboratories and educational facilities worldwide, including in the U.S and Canada, where they can still be used in experiments and for harmful teaching practices at veterinary schools.
According to new opinion polls carried on behalf of Cruelty Free International, the issue raises strong public concern. 68% of American adults and 73% of Canadian adults agree that dogs found or given to animal shelters should not be sold to laboratories for experiments.
Canadian Eric McCormack said: “Shelter dogs should be adopted into loving homes not used in cruel experiments. That’s why I support the Cruelty Free International global dog campaign.”
Michelle Thew, CEO of Cruelty Free International who are behind the campaign says: “Treating dogs as disposable research commodities or teaching tools with no regard for their lives is wrong. We urge the US and Canadian governments to protect all shelter dogs by implementing legislation to finally put an end to this practice.”