Richard Linklater Yells Cut on Texas A&M’s Cruel Dog Experiments

Oscar-Nominated Director—and Lifelong Texan—Joins PETA in Calling On University to End Canine Muscular Dystrophy Tests

For Immediate Release:
June 13, 2018

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

Award-winning director and Texas native Richard Linklater sent a letter this morning on PETA’s behalf urging Texas A&M University (TAMU) to end its “unjustifiable” muscular dystrophy (MD) experiments on golden retrievers and other dogs. In the letter, Linklater notes that 35 years of these cruel tests—for which dogs are caged, often alone, in barren metal cells—have failed to produce a cure or even a treatment that reverses symptoms of the disease.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that a cure must be found for MD, but these experimenters are purposely bringing dogs into the world in order to subject them to a shortened life of pain, misery, and neglect,” writes the Boyhood filmmaker. “I’m urging you to end these experiments and release the dogs for adoption so that they can live out their remaining days in comfort.”

PETA’s motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on.” For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Richard Linklater’s letter to Texas A&M University President Michael K. Young follows.

Michael K. Young
President
Texas A&M University

Dear President Young,

I’m contacting you today after PETA shared with me the disturbing video footage documenting that golden retrievers and other dogs are caged in barren metal cells—often alone—at Texas A&M University’s canine muscular dystrophy (MD) laboratory. I’m urging you to end these experiments and release the dogs for adoption so that they can live out their remaining days in comfort.

These tests are unjustifiable. There’s no doubt in my mind that a cure must be found for MD, but these experimenters are purposely bringing dogs into the world in order to subject them to a shortened life of pain, misery, and neglect. Thirty-five years of experiments on dogs have not led to a cure or even produced an effective treatment that reverses symptoms of the disease in humans, and even MD patients are speaking out against this. I’m sure that the university’s resources could be applied to better research methods.

I’m a lifelong Texan. I grew up nearby in Huntsville, my sister graduated from A&M, and my mother did graduate work there—and I really don’t want this great university to become a symbol of superfluous cruelty to animals to the outside world. Our society is evolving very quickly in this area (it’s just not “OK” anymore), and it pains me to see my home state lagging behind. Please end this unbelievably cruel work, stop breeding dogs, and allow those suffering in your laboratories to be adopted out to families who will give them love, care, and affection. PETA and other animal-support organizations are standing by to help. Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Richard Linklater