ALDF Facilitates Release Of Two Pigs From Research Lab To San Diego Sanctuary

Photos by Animal Legal Defense Fund

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) announced that it has facilitated 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 is also making a financial contribution to support the pigs’ care and well-being, allowing them to 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 warms my heart to have assisted in two more pigs finding the Life After Labs they deserve, bringing our total pigs rescued from labs to 47,” Gina Lynn, the founder of New Life Animal Sanctuary, told WAN.

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

“Based on what we know about animals used in research, these two pigs have likely 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 in a variety of experiments, including drug toxicity tests, medical device testing, organ transplants, and general surgical training — despite the existence of modern, humane alternatives that don’t involve animals and often produce more reliable results.

Gottingen pigs are specifically bred for use in biomedical research. They are engineered to be small, compliant, and docile, with good ear veins, which make them easier for researchers to experiment on. Their size allows them to fit into small laboratory cages, and their sweet, 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 unlike other pig breeds.

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