Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, a national watchdog animal rights organization, filed a federal complaint for $114,000 against USC Oct. 30 after the United States Department of Agriculture found University researchers violated multiple federal codes that resulted in the euthanization of three rabbits.

According to a September USDA inspection report, researchers performed out-of-protocol eye surgery on three rabbits, leading to several post-surgical complications, which researchers failed to identify, document or report. Due to these post-surgical complications, all three rabbits were euthanized by the Department of Animal Resources.

SAEN frequently monitors U.S. research facilities for violations of animal experimentation laws. Michael Budkie, the executive director of SAEN, said the USC’s case was one of the worst inspection reports in the country this year. In a letter to Sarah Helming, the deputy administrator for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Budkie called for a full investigation and prosecution of the University.

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“As soon as we saw the severity of the violations and the lack of concern for the animals, we decided immediately to file a federal complaint because these noncompliances are so severe that USC must be punished to make sure that they are not repeated,” Budkie said.

In a statement to the Daily Trojan, the University wrote that the researchers were testing a new type of eye drop formulated to help heal an eye injury.

“We hold ourselves to the highest standards for ethics and integrity in research,” the University wrote in its statement. “We take these issues very seriously and continually evaluate possible additional steps to ensure full compliance, as we are doing in this case.”

The USDA report found researchers critically violated three codes for oversight, personnel qualifications and providing adequate veterinary care. Despite suggesting the maximum penalty for these violations, Budkie said it is unlikely that the USDA will fine the University the full $114,000.

According to the report, the rabbits had debris stuck in the experimental area, skin abnormalities and decreased appetite following the surgery. One rabbit’s skin felt “hard to the touch and was beginning to crack/ulcerate on the cheek.”

“I generally think pretty highly of USC labs and researchers, so it’s very disappointing to me,” said Noa Krop, a sophomore majoring in environmental studies. “It’s 2024 and animal welfare should be a top priority in labs, and there should be safety protocols and training for researchers who do work with animals.”

The USDA requested that the DAR train all graduate students and faculty who will be responsible for monitoring the animals in the future. In its statement, the University wrote it has taken multiple measures to prevent further issues, including comprehensive training and increased research oversight.

“Anyone who has any concept of the most basic levels of animal care would know that these rabbits were in dire need of veterinary treatment,” Budkie said. The fact that all of this was ignored is just simply unconscionable.”

SAEN’s federal complaint claimed the University violated the Animal Welfare Act, which requires laboratory workers to provide pre-surgical and post-surgical care in accordance with standard veterinary procedures.

Budkie said the universities should have a “zero tolerance” policy in incidents that violate the Animal Welfare Act, suggesting the staff involved should be permanently barred from working with animals and the research project should be terminated.

This is not the first time SAEN has filed a complaint against the USC. In 2021, SAEN filed a complaint with the USDA after obtaining documents through the Freedom of Information Act that found University researchers created excessive wounds on pigs during surgery. 

In June 2019, SAEN filed a lawsuit against USC, alleging the University routinely violated research protocols and animal welfare laws. The parties settled in 2021, however, Budkie said the settlement prohibits discussion of the lawsuit’s terms.

In addition to its federal complaint, SAEN will be taking “additional steps” against the University, which will be revealed in an upcoming press release from the animal rights organization, Budkie said.

“Anyone who ignores the protocol should know that they’ve just rendered everything they’ve done scientifically meaningless,” Budkie said. “That’s why we try to make the point that this isn’t just an ethical or animal abuse failure. This is also a total scientific failure.”