An article appeared in the June/July 2005 issue of the HUMANE NEWS concerning a bill that would provide that public school pupils may opt out of experiments involving animals. Further, it would require schools to provide alternative education projects.

Society Director Roseann Trezza appeared before the Senate’s Education Committee to speak on behalf of such legislation. Trezza stated: “The dissection of animals before college age is useless and traumatic to most children & does not promote reverence for life. For those who have an interest in biology in higher education, there are progressive, animal-free learning tools”. There are 28 veterinary schools in the U. S. that no longer teach surgery on live dogs.

N J Acting Governor Codey has signed the dissection choice bill (A2233/S1739)! Our thanks to all who sent letters, testified or called our legislators. It is our hope that more students will now opt out of using animals in such courses now that it is no longer required.