Animal Activists Cry Foul as Prop. C Ally Lists Link to Humane Society in Booklet

Anti-vivisectionists and the local humane society are up in arms over the way a supporter of using pound animals for research identified himself in the voter’s pamphlet regarding the issue.

Veterinarian Dan Evans of Escondido listed himself as past vice president of the San Diego Humane Society, a position he held nine years ago, in the ballot pamphlet regarding Proposition C. The advisory measure asks voters whether they approve of continuing to provide pound animals for medical research.

Evans signed the argument in favor of providing the animals, prompting his opponents to complain that he is misleading the voters into thinking he represents the Humane Society’s position. They are especially angry because Evans fails to mention in the ballot pamphlet that he now is a public member on the Animal Subjects Committee at UC San Diego, which reviews and decides on scientists’ requests for animals to be used in research or teaching.

“He may be the past vice president of the San Diego Humane Society, but it’s obvious that’s not the chair he holds now,” said Robert Melvin, one of the founders of STOP (Stop Taking Our Pets), a group that opposes the county’s contract to sell animals to UCSD for research. “Why didn’t he say he sits on the committee?”

In fact, the Humane Society is opposed to the proposition. The group’s executive director, Fred Lee, signed the ballot pamphlet’s argument against the measure.

Evans conceded that Lee talked to him two weeks ago and called what he had done “a cheap shot.”

But Evans said he picked from a bevy of possible titles and chose the one he felt best reflected his humane interest in the animals involved in research. The decision over what title to use was never meant to hide his spot on the committee or deceive anyone, he said.

“I honestly believe that it indicates that I have a humane interest for these animals, otherwise, why would I ever have been vice president of the Humane Society?”

Evans’ name will appear on an estimated 1.2 million ballot pamphlets that will be mailed out before the November election, said Conny McCormack, county registrar of voters.

County officials said many voters put stock in which organizations signed arguments for or against a proposition.

“It’s one more clue to the voters who is supporting or opposing an issue,” McCormack said. “They could be swayed by that.”

Humane Society officials hope that seeing their organization under Evans’ name will not confuse voters.

“If Fido strays away from home, Fido should get hooked up with its owner and not sold for medical research,” said Humane Society spokeswoman Lani Kian.

Between July 1, 1989 and June 30 of this year, 324 dogs were sold to UCSD for $55 a piece, said Hector Cazares, assistant director of the San Diego County Department of Animal Control. Unclaimed and unidentified animals can be sold for research after they have been held for eight days and only if they have no distinguishing marks or collars that might make reuniting them with an owner easier, Cazares said.

When he signed the ballot measure, Evans said, he was unaware that he could have listed more than one affiliation.

Evans has been on the 17-member committee since 1984.

“I am not paid by UCSD,” said Evans, whose veterinary practice is now limited to horses. “I am there to see that the treatment of animals is done humanely and not in the excess of what is needed.”

But Melvin, of STOP, said Evans’ arguments run counter to those of the Humane Society and are likely to confuse voters.

“People reading the ballot are going to say we have the Humane Society on one side and the Humane Society on another. What am I to believe?” Melvin said.