Dr Suresh S Honnappagol

PEOPLE FOR
Vice Chancellor, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University
THE ETHICAL
University Nandinagar PB No 6 BIDAR 585 401 Karnataka, India
TREATMENT
OF ANIMALS
27 February 2011
PETA India
EXTREMELY URGENT PO Box 28260
Juhu, Mumbai
Dear Dr Honnappagol, 400 049
(22) 4072 7382
I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India about reports (22) 2636 7383 (fax)
we have received from distressed students stating that Veterinary College Bangalore has already
killed and embalmed four calves and may kill and embalm up to four more on Monday or later this Info@petaindia.org
week. This activity is contrary to the ethics of the veterinary profession and harmful to both the PETAIndia.com
animal and the students. Also, as per the notification of VCI, dated 6 August 2008, humane
alternatives such as computer simulations can be used. We urge you to cancel the use of animals for NEWS
this purpose immediately and opt for modern, superior methods that do not involve the killing of RELEASE
animals.

During my education as a veterinary student, I was required to observe this procedure as part of a
mandatory first-year anatomy course, and I found it to be a useless and traumatising experience.
The animal's jugular vein and carotid artery were cut in full view of me and my fellow students,
and we were then forced to watch as the animal died slowly and painfully. Formalin solution was
then introduced into the blood vessels to preserve the cadaver for later study. Even when the
animals are not killed in front of students, students who would have chosen to get into the
veterinary profession because they care about animals are distressed about the taking of young
calves' lives.

I can say with confidence that this experience did not make me a better veterinarian, did not
contribute to my understanding of anatomy and did not equip me to better care for patients. In
addition to my own personal experience, research has repeatedly found that students who are forced
to participate in or observe what they perceive to be ethically objectionable activities may suffer

Affiliates:
• PETA US
• PETA Foundation (UK)
• PETA Asia-Pacific
• PETA Germany
• PETA Netherlands

Registered Office:
H-341, Ground Floor
New Rajendra
Nagar, New Delhi
110 066
psychological trauma[1] and that such trauma can severely hamper veterinary students' ability to learn the intended
course material.[2],[3]

Furthermore, killing and embalming animals is as unnecessary as it is cruel. It is well within the means of any
veterinary school in India to successfully teach anatomy without harming animals. We urge you to kindly go through
the ALTEX article "The Effectiveness of Humane Teaching Methods in Veterinary Education" (enclosed), which
mentions a variety of effective alternatives in use by a number of veterinary schools in the west. One of them, which
has proved to be quite a success is the "client donation programs" for ethical sourcing of cadavers.

I urge you to immediately cancel any planned embalming procedures at the veterinary colleges that are a part of your
university or, at the very least, suspend it pending further discussion. May I please hear from you regarding this
matter as soon as possible? I can be contacted on +91 9820947382 or at ManilalV@petaindia.org

Sincerely,

Dr Manilal Valliyate
Director of Veterinary Affairs

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