For Immediate Release
May 8, 2002

Contact:
Mark Helm
202-783-7400 x102

Pet Cloning Death and Deformity Details Pursued under Freedom of Information Act by Humane Society and Friends of the Earth

Groups Call Upon Texas A&M to Inform the Public About Controversial Research

Washington, DC--Texas A&M University came under further scrutiny today for its experiments in animal cloning when Friends of the Earth and the Humane Society of the United States sent a letter requesting details on the project under the Texas Public Information Act.

The letter requests details on animal species that are the subject of cloning experimentation and specifically seeks: "Any and all information or records, written or electronic, regarding the number of animal deaths, deformities, and/or disabilities resulting, either directly or indirectly, from cloning attempts.

"Cloning experiments are known to result in the death and deformity of animals," said Friends of the Earth President Brent Blackwelder." Texas A&M is conducting experiments involving cats, dogs and farm animals. The details of those experiments should be made public, so people can have a say in whether or not that research takes place."

Under Texas Government Code § 552.221(d), Texas A&M has 10 business days to respond. As a public university, Texas A&M is subject to the requirements of this law.

In the wake of the Texas A&M announcement that researcher Mark Westhusin had cloned a cat, Friends of the Earth and the Humane Society of the United States requested information on the nature of cloning experiments in a letter dated March 8, 2002.

The Richard L. Floyd, Associate Vice President of the university's finance department responded on March 22 with a letter asking if the request "was intended as a submission under the Texas Public Information Act."

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