Every signature is a declaration that dogs deserve better than confinement, experimentation, and silence. Every signature is a demand for transparency, accountability, and the adoption of humane, modern research methods that do not rely on the suffering of companion animals.

We call on lawmakers, regulators, and research institutions to act with urgency and integrity. The time for half‑measures has passed. The time for excuses has passed. The time for change is now.

Add your name below and join the movement to end the use of dogs in research — permanently, decisively, and without delay. Their lives depend on our voices.

WHAT IS HAPPENING:  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees research facilities under the Animal Welfare Act, thousands of dogs are still used in federally registered research programs each year. In the most recent publicly available USDA annual report:

• Over 40,000 dogs were housed in U.S. research facilities nationwide.
• More than 60% of these dogs were used in testing or experimentation rather than breeding or holding.
• Beagles remain the most commonly used breed due to their gentle temperament and size.

These dogs are housed across multiple categories of federally registered institutions, including:

• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies conducting drug safety and toxicity testing
• Contract Research Organizations (CROs) performing studies on behalf of private companies
• Universities and academic medical centers conducting biomedical and behavioral research
• Government research laboratories operating under federal agencies
• Private laboratories registered under the Animal Welfare Act

Why Transparency Is Urgently Needed

While the USDA publishes annual totals, the public does not receive a clear, accessible list of which specific institutions use dogs, how many they use, or the purpose of each study. This lack of transparency prevents communities, lawmakers, and advocates from understanding the full scope of dog use in research.

• We therefore demand:
• Full public disclosure of every institution currently using dogs in research
• Annual reporting of the number of dogs acquired, used, retired, or euthanized
• Clear documentation of the type and purpose of each research protocol involving dogs
• Mandatory release of all dogs to licensed rescue organizations once research concludes
• A national plan to eliminate the use of dogs in research, replacing them with validated non‑animal alternatives
• These reforms are essential for accountability, ethical progress, and the protection of companion animals who cannot speak for themselves.

By signing this petition, you are standing firmly on the side of compassion, scientific progress, and moral responsibility. The continued use of dogs in research is not a preordainment — it is a choice. And it is a choice we refuse to accept any longer.