Animals used in research are supposed to be protected by strict ethical guidelines. But what happened at Utah State University shows a shocking failure of both compassion and compliance.

According to a university report, a researcher at USU subjected guinea pigs and hamsters to radiation beyond the approved levels, killing some in the process, and failed to provide required pain medication after surgeries. This wasn’t an isolated mistake. The misconduct went on for over two years before being caught, and it violated both institutional rules and federal standards.

These animals suffered, and some died, because someone in a position of trust believed they didn’t need to follow the rules. That’s not only unethical, it’s dangerous. And now USU wants to move on with minimal consequences.

We cannot let that happen.

We call on Utah State University Interim President Alan L. Smith and the school’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to immediately:

• Permanently ban the responsible researcher from working with animals, and terminate any other staff who knowingly allowed these abuses to continue.
• Implement mandatory transparency reforms, including publicly accessible animal research protocols and penalties for any future violations.
• Guarantee that no research involving surgery will ever be approved without pain relief— no exceptions, no excuses.

This isn’t just about one lab. It’s about protecting all animals used in science and ensuring that ethical boundaries are actually enforced. If USU wants to maintain any credibility as a research institution, it must show the public that cruelty will not be tolerated.

Sign this petition to demand accountability, transparency, and lasting reform. These animals can’t speak for themselves—but we can.