End the Use of Animals in Military Medical Training

End the Use of Animals in Military Medical Training

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Over the past 10 years, close to 2,000 piglets have been exposed to toxic nerve agents, radiation and severe trauma—then killed during military medical training by the Department of National Defence (DND). Although the DND claims these young pigs are anesthetized in training, the military’s own records reveal that many revive. In one case, a piglet began "vocalizing loudly" after being stabbed in the face, while another attempted to jump off the table—yet, that animal continued to be used for another two hours.

More than 70% of NATO nations no longer use animals at all for ...

Over the past 10 years, close to 2,000 piglets have been exposed to toxic nerve agents, radiation and severe trauma—then killed during military medical training by the Department of National Defence (DND). Although the DND claims these young pigs are anesthetized in training, the military’s own records reveal that many revive. In one case, a piglet began "vocalizing loudly" after being stabbed in the face, while another attempted to jump off the table—yet, that animal continued to be used for another two hours.

More than 70% of NATO nations no longer use animals at all for military medical training. They’ve replaced them with more advanced and relevant human patient simulators, which cost substantially less per trainee.

Please email your MP to urge the Minister of National Defence to bring Canada into the majority of NATO military powers, which no longer abuse and kill animals with outmoded methods of medical training.

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Email your Member of Parliament (MP)

Let’s Stop Animal Abuse in Canada’s Military! Email your MP to urge the Minister of National Defence to end the use of live piglets in Canada’s military medical training.

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Personalized letters can have great impact. If you have the time, please alter our pre-written text or write your own letter entirely. Some possible talking points to include:

  • Over the past 10 years, more than 1,800 piglets have been exposed to toxic nerve agents, radiation and severe trauma for military medical training.
  • Inadequately sedated piglets have revived during military trauma training, with one piglet “vocalizing loudly” and another “attempting to jump off the table”.
  • The DND’s Animal Care Committee, which is responsible for ensuring the piglets do not suffer, knew they were reviving but concealed that information by altering documents.
  • The DND acknowledges that using piglets may interfere with effective training by producing “training scars” in trainees who learn, for instance, how to correctly position a breathing tube in a pig, but which would be an incorrect placement in a human.
  • The continued use of piglets for military medical training puts Canadian soldiers’ lives at risk by employing obsolete teaching methods and inapplicable animal models.
  • Since 2012, the DND has spent over $1 million in taxpayer funds to purchase piglets for military medical training.
  • Over 70% of NATO nations no longer use animals for military medical training, having replaced them with more advanced, human-relevant human patient simulators.
  • Studies have found that human patient simulators, which accurately mimic human anatomy and physiology, are more applicable and cost-effective training tools for military medical training.
  • According to an Abacus poll commissioned by the Animal Alliance of Canada Fund in January 2023, fewer than 1 in 10 Canadians support the use of piglets for military medical training.

Please keep your message respectful. Thank you for your support. 

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