PRESS RELEASE

RELEASE DATE: Immediately (May 12, 2005)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Gene Baierschmidt 
                                          (801) 261-2919 ex. 202 - office

HUMANE SOCIETY OBJECTS TO DISSECTION OF LIVE SHELTER DOG

The Humane Society of Utah reacted today with disapproval to the report that a biology instructor at Gunnison Valley High School had his class witness the dissection of a small dog, an unclaimed stray from the local shelter, while the animal was still alive. "In our view, the fact that the dog was under anesthesia during the procedure, and was euthanized afterward, is really immaterial," says HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt. "The point is that this was an extremely graphic exhibition, and kids that age have enough shocks and stresses to deal with under any circumstances. Many of them expressed displeasure
at having had to witness the operation, and we fear that a great many others will become desensitized to the value of life itself by seeing the off-handed manner in which a living being was destroyed simply for
purposes of a classroom demonstration."

Mr. Baierschmidt also protested the fact that a shelter animal was used for the autopsy. "People generally look upon shelters as havens for homeless animals, places where the staff is doing everything possible to find good new homes for these creatures," he said. "We must keep in mind that there's a high possibility that the dog dissected in that biology class was once someone's pet."

The Humane Society has already received several messages of protest from Utah and other states. "We feel that both the instructor and the veterinarian involved in this case used extremely poor judgment all around," said Mr. Baierschmidt.