Animal Legal Defense Fund Facilitates Release of Two Pigs from Research Lab

Contact: media@aldf.org

SAN DIEGO — The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) announced it has helped facilitate the legal release of two Gottingen pigs from an undisclosed research lab to Ferdinand and Friends, a reputable sanctuary in Jacumba, California. Following the rescue, ALDF also is making a financial contribution to support the pigs’ care and well-being so they may live out their lives in peace and tranquility. 

After weeks of complex coordination and planning, rescuers traveled nearly 1,000 miles to bring the pigs safely to their new home. New Life Animal Sanctuary, which specializes in rescuing animals from research labs, also played a significant role in securing the pigs’ release.   

It is extremely rare for any animal to get out of a research lab alive. Often, animals used in research are subjected to multiple invasive experiments during their lives, only to be assigned to a “terminal” study in which they ultimately are killed to have their tissues and organs examined.       

“Based on what we know about animals used in research, these two pigs have been experimented on for much of their lives at the expense of their psychological and physical well-being,” said ALDF Executive Director Chris Green. “We are thrilled to support these two precious beings as they transition to a new phase of life filled with joy, enrichment, and proper care.”  

In laboratories, pigs are poisoned, mutilated, implanted with equipment, and killed for a variety of experiments including drug toxicity, testing medical devices, organ transplants, and general surgical training — despite the existence of modern humane alternatives that don’t involve animals and produce more reliable results.      

Gottingen pigs are specifically bred for use in biomedical research, engineered to be small, compliant, docile pigs with good ear veins, which make them easier for researchers to experiment on. Their size makes them more convenient to fit into small laboratory cages, and their sweet and gentle nature is exploited to subject them to invasive and often painful procedures, much like beagle dogs. Sanctuary staff have reported that Gottingen pigs don’t even squeal when getting vaccinations — a reaction that is unlike other breeds of pigs.    

For decades, ALDF has been working to improve legal protection for animals used in research. Currently, ALDF is legally challenging the USDA’s secret policy of not conducting full inspections of labs under the agency’s purview. Lawsuits have also been filed by ALDF against the National Institutes of Health and University of Wisconsin defending the free speech of advocates and a former university employee whose comments about animal experimentation were censored on social media.  

Photos and video of the pigs are available upon request.   

For more information, visit aldf.org/research.