An important bipartisan bill that would ensure a better future for laboratory animals is being considered in congress thanks to two representatives from California. In 2023 Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-CA-29) and Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA-41) reintroduced the Companion Animal Release from Experiments (CARE) Act of 2023 (H.R. 2878) which would require laboratories that receive National Institute of Health funding and experiment on dogs, cats and rabbits to develop plans for those animals to be adopted once they were no longer needed for research purposes.

In the United States around 200,000 dogs, cats and rabbits are used in animal experiments every year. Many of these animals that survive testing are still killed or abandoned once their research studies are concluded despite being healthy and adoptable. This bill would allow dogs, cats and rabbits used in these types of studies to have a second chance at life with loving adoptive families. Although all animal testing is cruel and unnecessary this legislation would provide animals that are already in the system the opportunity to experience the love and care that all companion animals deserve while animal activists and compassionate legislators work to dismantle the corrupt system of taxpayer-funded animal-based testing.

Fifteen US states have already passed similar legislation requiring tax-payer funded labs to provide avenues for the adoption of survivors of animal experimentation and countless former lab animals have been successfully integrated into safe and caring homes as beloved companion animals. This legislation has the potential to provide a brighter future for countless dogs, cats and rabbits in the United States that deserve to live out their lives in peace after being used and abused in laboratory experiments.

Take Action Now

Please join Species Unite in urging Congress to pass H.R. 2878, the CARE Act, to provide animal testing survivors the opportunity for a second chance at life in loving forever homes.