Judge Rejects Efforts to Block Tests on Dogs

A Santa Monica Superior Court judge on Thursday rejected efforts by Greyhound Rescue, an animal rights group, to block experiments on four greyhound dogs at UCLA despite claims that some of the animals were obtained without their owners’ consent for the research.

Judge Lawrence Waddington ruled that UCLA can go forward with plans to euthanize the dogs as part of a study on artificial hip implants.

“This was yet another attempt by a group whose stated aim is to end animal research,” said Richard Elbaum, a university spokesman. “The people who will benefit are those who will have to have an artificial hip in the future.”

Many owners of greyhounds used for racing have been “intentionally misled” about the fate of their dogs, Dan Whaley, attorney for Greyhound Rescue, said after the ruling.