BTS Research reviews

I often think back to this miserable time in my life and career and beyond the mistreatment of personnel at BTS, what haunts me are some of the 'studies' that were performed, merely because somebody had money on offer. It is likely that BTS was the last port of call for some of these 'studies' and that more reputable companies refused the opportunity. One that really sticks in my mind was assessment of a medical device in obese dogs. These dogs were kept in rabbit cages to keep them fat due to lack of activity. That's right - fully grown, obese dogs were kept in rabbit cages! There were other options proposed by several employees that with minimal cost would have given each dog a small run - but these were all refused by the owners who also interfered with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. The refusal to give each dog a small run was purely financial and totally ignored animal welfare. The husbandry staff were supposed to let them out for one hour per day but that was not happening - every time I had to pass through that room, I had tears in my eyes as these dogs would way their tails, craving any type of contact. The husbandry staff who were meant to let them out easy day were the same ones who would not change a rabbit cage liner even though the pan was overflowing with urine - the reason was because it was not the scheduled day to change the pan liners! I had tears in my eyes in the rabbit room from the ammonia. Zero engagement. Zero cares given. These owners lack even the most basic understanding of study design and conduct and every decision on animal welfare is driven by money. Just money.