Experimenting on animals is indefensible

Re “UCLA to Protect Animal Research,” Aug. 26

I wholeheartedly disagree with acting UCLA Chancellor Norman Abrams. I think it is reprehensible and morally wrong to torture another of God’s creatures for our benefit, especially when the research results have been shown to be of questionable use to humans and it is essentially the same research that has been repeated for years.

Abrams’ comment that federal and state agencies regularly inspect such projects to ensure that animals are humanely treated is laughable. Atrocities occur every day in slaughterhouses, chicken farms and research labs that are supposedly regulated by such agencies. I suspect that if people really knew what went on at UCLA, there would be more of an uproar from the public -- not just us “domestic terrorists and extremists.”

JAMES CANNON

Sherman Oaks

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Your article about threats to UCLA researchers gives the impression that animal activists are at war with civilized society. What usually falls under the news radar are the compassionate -- and legal -- actions of the vast majority of activists. They rescue and care for abandoned cats and dogs, save calves and pigs from “dead piles” at stockyards, feed the rescued, medicate the injured, find good homes for the adoptable, raise funds, pass out leaflets describing factory farms and slaughterhouses, encourage nonviolent eating and deal with hostile comments. Probably 95 out of 100 activists reject violence.

GRACIA FAY ELLWOOD

Ojai