I recently had the opportunity to interview Frankie Trull, a long time animal welfarist and President of the Foundation for Biomedical Research. The interview appears in the February 2008 edition of Nature Medicine.
Ms. Trull explained to me the difference between animal rights and animal welfare: Animal rights activists tend to think that no animals should be used in scientific experiments; whereas, animal welfare activists tend to think that there is a role for animals in science, but that those animals should be treated humanely and used only when absolutely necessary.
WIRED Magazine also interviewed Frankie Trull in May 2007. Here is a link to that interview: “Frankie Trull”.
An opposing view is expressed at www.awionline.org.
Wholly Cow, Frankie Trull animal welfare activist? That has to be one of the most inaccurate thing anyone could ever say on any subject. Frankie is one of the biggest animal exploiters and appologists of the 20th century. She has activly and openly worked to undermine every animal protection law in the US. She has been successful in gutting the Animal Welfare Act (behind an amendment that excluded rats, mice and birds from any federal protections). They make up over 98% of animals used in research.
Here is an article on that subject: http://www.awionline.org/pubs/quarterly/winter2001/laboratoryanimals.htm
She is neither rights or welfare. I sure hope you fix it because she doesn’t deserve this title.
Hi Chris,
Animal rights and welfare is a highly controversial area, and I appreciate your perspective. Thanks for sharing your views.
Best,
Genevive