Animal welfare agency accused of allowing illegal experiments on dogs

An investigation by Defi Media has revealed that the Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare (MSAW) had authorised a private company to carry out experiments on dead dogs – which is said to be forbidden by law.

Authored by journalist Thierry Laurent, the article said the MSPCA signed a contract in 2019 authorising the private company (name retained) to conduct experiments in 50 dogs that had been euthanized.

The experiments – said to investigate worms and other parasites – were reportedly conducted in the premises of the MSAW in Vallée-des-Prêtres, outside Port Louis.

However, such practice is against the Animal Welfare Act.

“The law does not allow the MSAW to deliver dead dogs to anyone for any experimentation,” the newspaper cited an official source as explaining. “In addition, international conventions prohibit scientific experiments on dogs.”

The Ministry of Agro-industry has reportedly initiated an internal investigation.

“The inquiry is not only intended to prove the offense but also to determine whether members of the 2019 MSAW administration obtained favours for granting the authorization.”

Defi Media said the then director of MSPCA refused to comment.

The former management of the organization was pinned down last year over alleged irregularities around the allocation of a contract for waterproofing works.