Michigan's lawmakers are facing mounting pressure to pass legislation that would ban painful dog experiments at taxpayer-funded institutions. The push is being led by a group of influential figures, including Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright and his fiancée Carley Johnston.
In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and House Speaker Matt Hall, Wright and Johnston wrote that the idea is supported by "not just the LaPortas, but also members of the Lions family who care deeply about this issue." They argue that dog experiments are unnecessary and inhumane, pointing out that cutting-edge research often relies on human-relevant methods.
Joining forces with Wright and Johnston in their advocacy effort is director and actor Alison Eastwood. The daughter of Clint Eastwood has sent a separate letter to Brinks and Hall urging them to advance the proposal, Queenie's Law.
The legislation would prohibit public bodies from conducting research or training on dogs "in a manner that causes pain or distress." The House version, HB 4254, was introduced by Rep. Joe Aragona, while the Senate version, SB 127, was introduced by Sen. Paul Wojno.
Michigan taxpayers are funding cruel and invasive canine experiments at institutions such as Wayne State University, which critics say have produced no meaningful results. In fact, the National Institutes of Health has spent around $15 million on such research since 1991, with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine arguing that it has yielded little to no usable results.
The latest billboard campaign in Lansing and Detroit has renewed attention on the issue, featuring a beagle and the message " $15 Million Wasted on Wayne State's Dog Experiments? ENOUGH. Pass Queenie's Law!"
Supporters of the legislation argue that it is necessary because Michigan taxpayers are helping bankroll such experiments. They point to alternatives that are already producing better results for patients, including clinical trials, population studies, 3D organoids, and research using donated human organs.
The bills have gained momentum with the endorsement of influential figures, including actors Lily Tomlin and Ernie Hudson. LaPorta and his wife Callie also backed the legislation in November, while director Alison Eastwood has joined Wright and Johnston in urging lawmakers to advance it.
However, some critics argue that restrictions on animal studies could hinder biomedical research and harm Michigan's competitiveness. They point out that the U.S. Navy recently announced its decision to stop using dogs and cats in research, and that Congress approved a defense policy bill banning painful experiments on dogs and cats last year.
As the push for Queenie's Law gains momentum, it remains to be seen whether lawmakers will ultimately take action to ban such experiments at taxpayer-funded institutions in Michigan.
In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and House Speaker Matt Hall, Wright and Johnston wrote that the idea is supported by "not just the LaPortas, but also members of the Lions family who care deeply about this issue." They argue that dog experiments are unnecessary and inhumane, pointing out that cutting-edge research often relies on human-relevant methods.
Joining forces with Wright and Johnston in their advocacy effort is director and actor Alison Eastwood. The daughter of Clint Eastwood has sent a separate letter to Brinks and Hall urging them to advance the proposal, Queenie's Law.
The legislation would prohibit public bodies from conducting research or training on dogs "in a manner that causes pain or distress." The House version, HB 4254, was introduced by Rep. Joe Aragona, while the Senate version, SB 127, was introduced by Sen. Paul Wojno.
Michigan taxpayers are funding cruel and invasive canine experiments at institutions such as Wayne State University, which critics say have produced no meaningful results. In fact, the National Institutes of Health has spent around $15 million on such research since 1991, with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine arguing that it has yielded little to no usable results.
The latest billboard campaign in Lansing and Detroit has renewed attention on the issue, featuring a beagle and the message " $15 Million Wasted on Wayne State's Dog Experiments? ENOUGH. Pass Queenie's Law!"
Supporters of the legislation argue that it is necessary because Michigan taxpayers are helping bankroll such experiments. They point to alternatives that are already producing better results for patients, including clinical trials, population studies, 3D organoids, and research using donated human organs.
The bills have gained momentum with the endorsement of influential figures, including actors Lily Tomlin and Ernie Hudson. LaPorta and his wife Callie also backed the legislation in November, while director Alison Eastwood has joined Wright and Johnston in urging lawmakers to advance it.
However, some critics argue that restrictions on animal studies could hinder biomedical research and harm Michigan's competitiveness. They point out that the U.S. Navy recently announced its decision to stop using dogs and cats in research, and that Congress approved a defense policy bill banning painful experiments on dogs and cats last year.
As the push for Queenie's Law gains momentum, it remains to be seen whether lawmakers will ultimately take action to ban such experiments at taxpayer-funded institutions in Michigan.
I'm literally so done with those dog experiments 
they're just not necessary anymore! 
the fact that we can do all this advanced research on human-relevant methods is a game changer 
and it's crazy that we're still funding these painful experiments on dogs 
I mean, I get that some people might be worried about what will happen to biomedicine if they ban these experiments, but isn't it better to err on the side of caution and do things humanely 
? also, $15 million is a LOT of money 
and could be spent on so many other important things 
" $15 Million Wasted... ENOUGH. Pass Queenie's Law!" 
that beagle is adorable 
and it's great to see Brock Wright and his fiancée Carley Johnston leading the charge 
let's hope our lawmakers take action soon 
... but like, aren't we being a bit too harsh on scientists and researchers? I mean, they're just trying to make breakthroughs and save lives, right? It's not all about torturing dogs for the sake of it. And what about all those alternative methods that are supposedly working better? How can we be so sure they're better than dog experiments when we've never actually seen them in action?
I'm not sure why we're so quick to condemn animal testing when it's actually saving lives. Like, have you seen the results of that cancer research on mice? It's been a game-changer! We can't just shut down all experiments because one or two get out of control. What about the 3D organoids stuff? That's like the future of medicine right there 
. If we start banning animal testing, where do we draw the line? The Navy is already phasing it out, so maybe we should focus on making that happen instead of restricting lawmakers in Michigan 
. It's all about finding a balance between compassion and progress 
. I think it's amazing that they're using their platforms to raise awareness about this important issue. It's crazy to think that we're wasting $15 million on dog experiments when there are better, more effective ways to help humans 
. If Queenie's Law passes, it would be a huge win for animal welfare and a step in the right direction towards a more compassionate world 
. Like, we got better ways to get results without using animals, right? I feel so bad for Brock and Carley Wright and Alison Eastwood for even having to deal with this 
. Let's get this done!
I'm all for helping our furry friends out, but at what cost? The whole thing just feels like a PR stunt to me, but hey, if it gets passed, that's cool, too. Let's hope it's not just a bunch of empty words and we actually see some real change here. 
. I mean, we're talking $15 million wasted on dog experiments that aren't even yielding anything meaningful? It's just not right. These dogs are innocent lives being used for research and it's like, what's the point? Can't we just find better ways to do things without causing them pain or distress?
The fact that they've wasted $15 million already is just crazy! 
Anyway, I'm all for Queenie's Law & hope lawmakers listen 2 the ppl who care about this issue 
. It's not like these researchers are curing cancer or finding cures for diseases 
. They're just using dogs as test subjects to save a buck 
!
. I mean, think about it, $15 million down the drain on unnecessary dog experiments when we could be using that money for real progress in medical research. It's like, what's more valuable to us as a society: saving lives with cutting-edge human-relevant methods or perpetuating cruelty and waste? 
. We can't just sit back and let taxpayers foot the bill for something we wouldn't do ourselves, even if it's "just" an experiment 
i mean who wouldn't want to support a good cause? 
and those $15 million wasted on Wayne State's dog experiments is just wild 