AR-News: AAVS ACTION: Revoke Beagle Patent

Sat Mar 20 20:05:25 EST 2004

Please take some time to write about this!

Subject: AAVS ACTION: Revoke Beagle Patent!
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:32:06 -0500 (EST)
From: AAVS cspiegel at aavs.org
To: jodi.de.vries at comcast.net

Please Forward to Fellow Animal Activists!

UNIVERSITY PATENTS
SICKENED BEAGLES:
AAVS FILES LEGAL CHALLENGE TO REVOKE PATENT

URGENT ACTION NEEDED

Dear Jodi
In 1999, experimenters at the University of Texas 'successfully' rendered 31
beagles to be immunocompromised in order to 'mimic' humans who suffer from
secondary lung infections due to weakened immune systems brought about by
diseases such as AIDS or as a result of chemotherapy. Although similar
experiments have been conducted on other animals, such as mice and rabbits,
the researchers claimed theirs was the first type of experiment performed on
a "large animal."
The dogs received daily doses of steroids and were exposed to various levels
of total body irradiation to essentially destroy their immune systems, a
process which entailed putting dogs in a box and exposing them to high doses
of radiation. After several weeks, the beagles who survived were exposed to
a mold through a tube down their throats, allowing for a localized infection
in one lung lobe. The 'inventors' consider the beagle patent a "testing
vehicle" through which they can learn more about respiratory fungal
infections. It is also a money maker for the experimenters, since they have
licensed the use of the patent to Sandra Technology, Inc., a for-profit
company in Texas.
The American Anti-Vivisection Society along with the International Center
for Technology Assessment, a non-profit group that works to address the
impacts of technology on human health, animal welfare, and the environment,
has formally filed a legal action requesting that the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) rescind patent no. 6,444,872, which covers live
beagles and the several methods used to infect them with a fatal fungal
infection in their lungs. The Request for Re-Examination was submitted
personally to the Patent Office on February 25, 2004. The intent of this
beagle patent to make dogs sick in order to generate a profit is clear, and
AAVS aims to end the notion that animals are 'objects' that can be patented.
Please contact the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and tell them that you
support the Request for Re-Examination of patent no. 6,444,872. Tell the
Patent Office that animals are not "machines" or "compositions of matter."
Written letters sent via regular mail are the best mode to contact
government officials to assure that your correspondence is fully considered
and kept on file.

John Dudas, Acting Director
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Mail Stop Comments – Patents
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Click Here For More Information About Animal Patents

View the Official Patent on Beagles (.pdf)

UPCOMING EVENTS

-----------------------
Farm Sanctuary FARM ANIMAL FORUM: Advocating for Change
Chicago
April 3, 2004
Join Farm Sanctuary and learn how to be an active participant in the
nation's leading efforts to rescue and protect farmed animals. You won't
want to miss this activist training and education seminar, complete with
noted animals rights speakers, hands on activist training sessions, video
presentations, and merchandise and literature exhibit tables.

* Friday April 2 "Say NO to Veal" demonstration and leafleting-7pm
* Saturday April Farm Animal Forum- Holiday Inn-Chicago City
Centre-Registration begins at 9am
* Sunday April 4 Screening of Peaceable Kingdom at Northwestern
University-12 pm. In coordination with the Forum, Tribe of Heart founders
and film producers Jim LaVeck and Jenny Stein will be presenting their
newest documentary.
Forum Speakers:
Carol Adams-author of The Sexual Politics of Meat and Living Among Meat
Eaters
Gene and Lorri Bauston-Founders of Farm Sanctuary
Michael Gregor, MD - General practitioner specializing in vegetarian
nutrition.
Jim Mason-author of Animal Factories and An Unnatural Order
Wayne Pacelle-Senior Vice President of HSUS
The cost of the Farm Animal Forum is $60 per person and includes vegan lunch
and Saturday evening "Cowtail Party" social with complimentary hors
d'oeuvres. Registration deadline is March 26. To sign up for the Farm Animal
Forum using your credit card, please call 607-583-2225 ext. 221 or register
online at www.farmsanctuary.org.

-----------------------
May 22, 2004
New York City
Farm Sanctuary-Gala for Farm Animals
Join Honoree Mary Tyler Moore and Hosts Grant Aleksander, Linda Blair, Sue
Coe and Peter Max for Farm Sanctuary's next black-tie Gala for Farm Animals
at The Plaza Hotel in New York City! This important night will, once again,
bring celebrity supporters, key legislators and animal advocates together to
raise public awareness and financial support for farm animals. The 2004 Gala
will feature a gourmet vegan dinner, a silent auction of farm
animal-inspired artwork and other unique items, and an exciting program of
guest speakers and special performances. Admission is $300 per person. To
register or for more information about the event, including product
donations, sponsorship and advertising opportunities, and auction
contributions to support the event, as well as travel and accommodations
information for your convenience, please visit
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/gala/. You may also contact us at
gala at farmsanctuary.org or 607-583-2225 ext. 241.
AMERICAN ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY
801 Old York Road, #204
Jenkintown, PA 19046
(800)SAY-AAVS
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the wild, cruel beast is not behind the bars of the cage. he is in front of it - axel munthe

"Never doubt that a small group of dedicated citizens can change the world. 
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."      Margaret Mead
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