Pound Seizure

The letter from Dr. Paul Friedman of UC San Diego in regard to pound seizure brings new meaning to the old phrase, “Trust me, I’m a doctor.” His comments, unsubstantiated by any facts, insults the intelligence of San Diego residents.

First, he invokes the image of “fanatics” when, in fact, it is the established humane organizations and concerned private citizens who make up the bulk of the opposition to pound seizure.

Friedman then insists that animals used at UCSD are not pets, but feral animals. When was the last time you saw a pack of wild dogs running in the streets of San Diego? And can’t you just hear the researchers at the pound saying, “Gosh, I can’t take that sweet little beagle--he might have been a pet! Give me that snarling, vicious pit bull mix with the mange instead.”

Another ludicrous comment by Friedman is the statement that, without pound seizure, the cost of animals would be “impossibly expensive.” But look at the facts. The National Institutes of Health already includes an allowance of $200 per dog in the grant money, yet UCSD spends only $55 to obtain a pound dog. Clearly a much higher price tag is already built into the system.

In addition, of an overall research budget of $60 million, less than one-tenth of 1% is spent on the purchase of pound animals. Since UCSD buys only 800 to 900 pound animals yearly, the extra cost, already covered by NIH, is hardly going to bankrupt one of the wealthiest universities in the country.

To pretend that vital medical research would be stopped by the end of pound seizure is blatantly preying upon the fear of illness and disease. Fully 70% of the average grant goes to researchers’ salaries. That should give us pause to examine why there is so much interest in saving the money that NIH has already allotted for the purchase of animals.

Dr. Friedman is correct about one thing--the public does not want to forgo the benefits of medical research. That same public also wants a humane shelter system. The truth is that we can have both with the termination of the pound-seizure contract. The only thing standing in the way is UCSD’s stubborn refusal to see an idea whose time has come.

Fifty-one of the 58 counties in California do not practice pound seizure. They have demanded quality research and the integrity of the animal shelter system. San Diego should not settle for less.

JANE CARTMILL

San Diego Coalition to End Pound Seizure