THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBIA, S.C. — An Ohio-based watchdog group has called on the federal government to investigate a South Carolina company it says is abusing research monkeys.

Stop Animal Exploitation Now executive director Michael Budkie said on Monday internal records from the Alpha Genesis Inc. lab near Charleston show the company is breaking federal law.

Budkie says documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show at least 170 primates are missing body parts, from fingers to limbs. Budkie says at least one primate was cut across the abdomen and its internal organs were spilling out. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RENO, Nev. — Animal rights activists are calling on U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to investigate the high number of deaths of animals in research laboratories due to negligence over the past two years, including dozens of research monkeys in Nevada.

Leaders of the Ohio-based Stop Animal Exploitation Now say at least 64 animals have been killed in at least 18 different U.S. facilities since the beginning of 2008.

That includes at 43 monkeys — 32 of which died at a Charles River Lab in Sparks in 2008 due to a heating system malfunction. (more…)

SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON — A man in an astronaut suit stood outside the National Air and Space Museum.

Normal enough, given the contents of the building before him. But he was not promoting an exhibit Thursday, nor was he affiliated with the museum. He and other People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals activists were brandishing signs and distributing pamphlets protesting a NASA program.

NASA is planning to radiate squirrel monkeys. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MINNEAPOLIS — “Ever had leprosy? Thanks to animal research, you won’t.”

That message, emblazoned on 15 billboards around the Twin Cities, strikes at the heart of a largely hidden but heated health care battle being waged beyond the national debate over access to medical care. (more…)