(KMOX) - An animal rights group has filed a federal complaint against the University of Missouri claiming two piglets were lost in a drain and five dogs died from heat stress while in the school's care.
The Stop Animal Exploitation Now! is accusing the university of violating the Animal Welfare Act and filed the complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The complaint calls for a full USDA investigation.
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The complaint reportedly states that on Jan. 8, "an animal caretaker entered the room in one of our facilities and found that it was very warm, humid and five of the 10 dogs deceased."
The report says the other five dogs are doing well.
Also in the complaint is a report about a incident in June of 2019 when two piglets disappeared into a drain trough and were never found.
The Stop Animal Exploitation Now! is seeking the maximum fine of $10,000, the Post-Dispatch reports.
Mizzou spokesman Christian Basi tells the Post-Dispatch both incidents were "proactively" reported to the USDA and Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, and that animal research is critical for finding for major illnesses like cancer and heart disease.
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