SamanthaJane13
Demon Pazuzu/B!tchGoddess
FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/NoonansDeathTrap
Dr. Noonan's "Rat Community Project" works as the lab component to the Social Organization of Mammals course (BIO316) at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. Historically, this course is given every other year in the Spring. Sadly, this year, Dr. Noonan intends to conduct this project two semesters in a row, starting next semester-- Spring 2012. As a former student in this class and long time animal rescuer, it is my opinion that this lab is one of the most horrifying, scientifically devoid examples of student indoctrination and desensitization imaginable. Dr. Noonan, the project's "principle investigator," claims that the lab portion of the Social Org course works to teach students how to objectively collect data. If the goal is to train students to observe and collect data on animal behavior, there are already a wide array of captive animals within walking distance of the college at the Buffalo Zoo. Students in Noonan's courses already have open access to the Buffalo Zoo-- there is no need for any animals to suffer and die in order to teach data collection methods. Data collection methods could also be practiced by observing driver behavior and traffic flow at your local intersection.
Despite claims by Dr. Noonan that this project has scientific validity, in truth, this horrific lab is just another tool aimed at indoctrinating students to accept the dubious proposition that animal suffering in labs is necessary for scientific advancement. In an effort to entice and excite students, Dr. Noonan shamelessly refers to his rat confinement project as a "Jane Goodall experience," explaining how lucky his students are to be able to take part in such a project. One can only imagine how offended Dr. Goodall might be to learn that this cruel pseudoscience is being linked to her good name.
Students are required to observe the captive rat colony for one hour everyday for approximated 40 days. The project commences with 16 rats (8 female and 8 male). It is my understanding after speaking with Dr. Noonan's staff members, that the rats used in this project are purchased from local pet stores. In the Spring of 2010 (the last time this project was conducted), 8 females gave birth to ~15-20 offspring each. All babies born during the project that were not euthanized by Dr. Noonan were killed and/or cannibalized by colony adults. Many of the babies endured dismemberment and de-gloving injuries (flesh is stripped from bone) while still alive.
Students are forbidden from intervening to help alleviate the suffering of the captive animals. Students (the majority self-proclaimed animal lovers) are warned that any actions taken to assist animals by alleviating their pain or discomfort is punishable by expulsion from the course. Students are only permitted to passively observe the confined and stressed animals, as they struggle to survive in the totally unnatural environment of the stainless steel cage. This project ultimately results in the self-destruction, mutilation, infanticide and cannibalism of the helpless animals who are forced to endure Dr. Noonan's folly. Those animals fortunate enough to survive the 40 day observation period are rewarded by, as Dr. Noonan proudly asserted, having their necks snapped.
During my observations, I witnessed severed digits, infected and inflamed appendages, infanticide, cannibalism and blood smeared cage walls on a daily basis. On one day, during one, 60 minute observation period, I witnessed the Alpha rat "Marshmallow" instigate agonistic interactions with Omega rat "Sand," resulting in 13 instances of hipping behavior, 27 lunging attacks against Sand, 2 contact bites to Sand's scrotum, 19 contact bites to Sand's hind feet and 8 contact bites to Sand’s forefeet.
Animal behaviorist Dr. Anne Hanson has carried out extensive behavioral research of Rattus norvegicus behavior, and notes a connection between the agonistic behavior of wild and domestic rats relating to the restrictive nature of the caged environment. Hanson explains that confinement impedes natural flight tendencies, leading to “longer, escalated conflicts and the necessity of protracted self-defense in close quarters.” Extended agonistic interactions and unrelenting aggression exhibited by Alpha and Omega rats in captivity are well documented in scientific literature. It is barbaric practice to repeatedly duplicate such an invasive behavior project, when there is no expectation that new information will be gained.
The following is an excerpt from the written report I compiled for the lab portion of the Social Organization of Mammals course:
"On February 12th, twenty-five days into the observation project, female Drip appeared notably distressed, moving restlessly around the enclosure, in an apparent attempt to avoid male advances and harassment. By visually comparing Drip with the other females, it seemed that Drip’s abdomen was substantially more distended than the others. Although she did attempt several times, the sheer size of her abdomen restricted her from entering any of the creep holes to seek refuge from the males. Drip appeared to become increasingly desperate, moving from creep hole to creep hole, testing each one while shrieking and kicking off pursuant males. Drip was repeatedly mounted and forcefully pinned down by males as she struggled to find somewhere to escape. In an effort to shield against male advances, Drip repeatedly assumed a defensive posture, rolling onto her back. Unable to mount her in this position, pursuing males would stand on her abdomen, effectively pinning her to the floor. Drip momentarily sought refuge in upper compartment 3E, at which point she raised her tail and appeared to strain as if contractions had commenced. As Drip raised her tail, dark colored discharge was clearly visible in the vicinity of her anogenital region. Her breathing also seemed slow and labored. Her respite in 3E was short lived, no more than twenty seconds, as males soon entered 3E, attempting to mount her again. She was pushed to the cage floor several times, apparently shrieking in desperation."
What was equally disturbing was my daily observations of students enrolled in the course. I witnessed students becoming hardened and desensitized to the suffering of the animals as the project progressed.
For any who might doubt the validity of my assertions, I welcome you to fact check any of the details I have disclosed. You might wonder how an experiment of this kind could continue for so many years. One need only take inventory of the college's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to understand why....
Canisius College's IACUC states:
"Only those uses of animals with necessity of purpose, scientific validity and a lack of non-animal alternatives are to be approved, and approval is to be granted only when the benefits expected to be derived from a procedure are judged to meet or exceed the costs borne by the animal subjects. The IACUC is given the authority to approve, to modify, or to withhold approval from, any proposed procedure..."
The senseless rat confinement project is in DIRECT VIOLATION of the terms set forth by Canisius College's IACUC. Dr. Noonan is the Chair of the IACUC committee at the college... In essence, Noonan is charged with the responsibility of regulating his own research projects.
**Contact Dr. Barbara Hanson of the Canisius IACUC at 716-888-2556 OR [email protected]**
According to Dr. Noonan, who takes great pride in describing his rat torture chamber as a "custom made" device, he has been conducting this horrendous spectacle of suffering for OVER 30 YEARS.
How YOU can help-- Let YOUR voice be heard!
Please call and write the following Canisius College administrators:
Canisius College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
(716) 888-2556
[email protected]
John J. Hurley- President
(716) 888-2100
[email protected]
Erica Sammarco- Assistant to the President
(716) 888-8203
[email protected]
Dr. Michael Noonan, Principle Investigator/Animal Behavior Program Director
(716) 888-2772
(716) 888-2518
[email protected]
Eileen Herbert, Director of Public Relations (note: Ms. Herbert is also one of Noonan's graduate students)
(716) 888-2791
[email protected]
Noonan shamelessly promotes his rat confinement project as "a Jane Goodall Experience." Let Dr. Goodall know how you feel about Noonan's exploitation of her good name and reputation.
The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) can be reached the following ways:
Emily Sanson, manager of JGI communications
(703) 682-9220
[email protected]
Claire Gwatkin Jones, VP of JGI Communications
(703) 682-9220
[email protected]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RELATED YOUTUBE VIDEOS:
Noonan's Death Trap: Rat attempts to relieve pain by foot guarding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO83RO8hm6g
Noonan's Death Trap: A "Custom Built" Stainless Steel Hell (NOT Graphic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esGETl3Nwvc
Noonan's Death Trap: 30 Years of Suffering & Desensitization (1/2) *NOT Graphic*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MMnsTp6YKE&NR=1
Noonan's Death Trap: 30 Years of Suffering & Desensitization (2/2) *NOT Graphic*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVJCMc-_uuE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPASSION AND INTEREST!
Together we CAN see an and to the suffering...
Question? Please contact [email protected]
www.animalallieswny.org
www.facebook.com/NoonansDeathTrap
Dr. Noonan's "Rat Community Project" works as the lab component to the Social Organization of Mammals course (BIO316) at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. Historically, this course is given every other year in the Spring. Sadly, this year, Dr. Noonan intends to conduct this project two semesters in a row, starting next semester-- Spring 2012. As a former student in this class and long time animal rescuer, it is my opinion that this lab is one of the most horrifying, scientifically devoid examples of student indoctrination and desensitization imaginable. Dr. Noonan, the project's "principle investigator," claims that the lab portion of the Social Org course works to teach students how to objectively collect data. If the goal is to train students to observe and collect data on animal behavior, there are already a wide array of captive animals within walking distance of the college at the Buffalo Zoo. Students in Noonan's courses already have open access to the Buffalo Zoo-- there is no need for any animals to suffer and die in order to teach data collection methods. Data collection methods could also be practiced by observing driver behavior and traffic flow at your local intersection.
Despite claims by Dr. Noonan that this project has scientific validity, in truth, this horrific lab is just another tool aimed at indoctrinating students to accept the dubious proposition that animal suffering in labs is necessary for scientific advancement. In an effort to entice and excite students, Dr. Noonan shamelessly refers to his rat confinement project as a "Jane Goodall experience," explaining how lucky his students are to be able to take part in such a project. One can only imagine how offended Dr. Goodall might be to learn that this cruel pseudoscience is being linked to her good name.
Students are required to observe the captive rat colony for one hour everyday for approximated 40 days. The project commences with 16 rats (8 female and 8 male). It is my understanding after speaking with Dr. Noonan's staff members, that the rats used in this project are purchased from local pet stores. In the Spring of 2010 (the last time this project was conducted), 8 females gave birth to ~15-20 offspring each. All babies born during the project that were not euthanized by Dr. Noonan were killed and/or cannibalized by colony adults. Many of the babies endured dismemberment and de-gloving injuries (flesh is stripped from bone) while still alive.
Students are forbidden from intervening to help alleviate the suffering of the captive animals. Students (the majority self-proclaimed animal lovers) are warned that any actions taken to assist animals by alleviating their pain or discomfort is punishable by expulsion from the course. Students are only permitted to passively observe the confined and stressed animals, as they struggle to survive in the totally unnatural environment of the stainless steel cage. This project ultimately results in the self-destruction, mutilation, infanticide and cannibalism of the helpless animals who are forced to endure Dr. Noonan's folly. Those animals fortunate enough to survive the 40 day observation period are rewarded by, as Dr. Noonan proudly asserted, having their necks snapped.
During my observations, I witnessed severed digits, infected and inflamed appendages, infanticide, cannibalism and blood smeared cage walls on a daily basis. On one day, during one, 60 minute observation period, I witnessed the Alpha rat "Marshmallow" instigate agonistic interactions with Omega rat "Sand," resulting in 13 instances of hipping behavior, 27 lunging attacks against Sand, 2 contact bites to Sand's scrotum, 19 contact bites to Sand's hind feet and 8 contact bites to Sand’s forefeet.
Animal behaviorist Dr. Anne Hanson has carried out extensive behavioral research of Rattus norvegicus behavior, and notes a connection between the agonistic behavior of wild and domestic rats relating to the restrictive nature of the caged environment. Hanson explains that confinement impedes natural flight tendencies, leading to “longer, escalated conflicts and the necessity of protracted self-defense in close quarters.” Extended agonistic interactions and unrelenting aggression exhibited by Alpha and Omega rats in captivity are well documented in scientific literature. It is barbaric practice to repeatedly duplicate such an invasive behavior project, when there is no expectation that new information will be gained.
The following is an excerpt from the written report I compiled for the lab portion of the Social Organization of Mammals course:
"On February 12th, twenty-five days into the observation project, female Drip appeared notably distressed, moving restlessly around the enclosure, in an apparent attempt to avoid male advances and harassment. By visually comparing Drip with the other females, it seemed that Drip’s abdomen was substantially more distended than the others. Although she did attempt several times, the sheer size of her abdomen restricted her from entering any of the creep holes to seek refuge from the males. Drip appeared to become increasingly desperate, moving from creep hole to creep hole, testing each one while shrieking and kicking off pursuant males. Drip was repeatedly mounted and forcefully pinned down by males as she struggled to find somewhere to escape. In an effort to shield against male advances, Drip repeatedly assumed a defensive posture, rolling onto her back. Unable to mount her in this position, pursuing males would stand on her abdomen, effectively pinning her to the floor. Drip momentarily sought refuge in upper compartment 3E, at which point she raised her tail and appeared to strain as if contractions had commenced. As Drip raised her tail, dark colored discharge was clearly visible in the vicinity of her anogenital region. Her breathing also seemed slow and labored. Her respite in 3E was short lived, no more than twenty seconds, as males soon entered 3E, attempting to mount her again. She was pushed to the cage floor several times, apparently shrieking in desperation."
What was equally disturbing was my daily observations of students enrolled in the course. I witnessed students becoming hardened and desensitized to the suffering of the animals as the project progressed.
For any who might doubt the validity of my assertions, I welcome you to fact check any of the details I have disclosed. You might wonder how an experiment of this kind could continue for so many years. One need only take inventory of the college's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to understand why....
Canisius College's IACUC states:
"Only those uses of animals with necessity of purpose, scientific validity and a lack of non-animal alternatives are to be approved, and approval is to be granted only when the benefits expected to be derived from a procedure are judged to meet or exceed the costs borne by the animal subjects. The IACUC is given the authority to approve, to modify, or to withhold approval from, any proposed procedure..."
The senseless rat confinement project is in DIRECT VIOLATION of the terms set forth by Canisius College's IACUC. Dr. Noonan is the Chair of the IACUC committee at the college... In essence, Noonan is charged with the responsibility of regulating his own research projects.
**Contact Dr. Barbara Hanson of the Canisius IACUC at 716-888-2556 OR [email protected]**
According to Dr. Noonan, who takes great pride in describing his rat torture chamber as a "custom made" device, he has been conducting this horrendous spectacle of suffering for OVER 30 YEARS.
How YOU can help-- Let YOUR voice be heard!
Please call and write the following Canisius College administrators:
Canisius College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
(716) 888-2556
[email protected]
John J. Hurley- President
(716) 888-2100
[email protected]
Erica Sammarco- Assistant to the President
(716) 888-8203
[email protected]
Dr. Michael Noonan, Principle Investigator/Animal Behavior Program Director
(716) 888-2772
(716) 888-2518
[email protected]
Eileen Herbert, Director of Public Relations (note: Ms. Herbert is also one of Noonan's graduate students)
(716) 888-2791
[email protected]
Noonan shamelessly promotes his rat confinement project as "a Jane Goodall Experience." Let Dr. Goodall know how you feel about Noonan's exploitation of her good name and reputation.
The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) can be reached the following ways:
Emily Sanson, manager of JGI communications
(703) 682-9220
[email protected]
Claire Gwatkin Jones, VP of JGI Communications
(703) 682-9220
[email protected]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RELATED YOUTUBE VIDEOS:
Noonan's Death Trap: Rat attempts to relieve pain by foot guarding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO83RO8hm6g
Noonan's Death Trap: A "Custom Built" Stainless Steel Hell (NOT Graphic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esGETl3Nwvc
Noonan's Death Trap: 30 Years of Suffering & Desensitization (1/2) *NOT Graphic*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MMnsTp6YKE&NR=1
Noonan's Death Trap: 30 Years of Suffering & Desensitization (2/2) *NOT Graphic*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVJCMc-_uuE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPASSION AND INTEREST!
Together we CAN see an and to the suffering...
Question? Please contact [email protected]
www.animalallieswny.org
www.facebook.com/NoonansDeathTrap
