Below is the complaint filed with the USDA by the Alliance for Animals:

August 24, 2004

Regional Director
USDA/APHIS/AC
920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200
Raleigh , NC 27606-5210

Dr. Elizabeth Goldentyre, or current Acting Director:

Please consider this letter a formal complaint regarding animal care at the National Institutes of Health's Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC) located in Madison, WI.

It has come to our attention that three (3) marmosets were recently killed in a cage washer. These animals were reportedly scalded to death.

This appears to be a case of gross negligence and suggests that the operating procedures and training of staff at WNPRC are insufficient to assure compliance with the Animal Welfare Act.

An immediate inspection of the facility is warranted to ensure that procedures are corrected and established to prevent this problem in the future.

Please inform us of any and all actions taken by your office as a result of this official complaint.

Should your office not be the appropriate office with which to lodge this complaint, please forward this to the correct public official and notify us of that action.

Sincerely,

Lori Nitzel, Director
Alliance for Animals

cc:
USDA/APHIS/AC
4700 River Road , Unit 84
Riverdale , MD 20737-1234