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CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Heat warning issued for London as temperature, humidity soar
London, Ont.-area residents are in store for yet another round of soaring temperatures this weekend and into Monday, Environment Canada says. The federal weather agency is forecasting temperatures in the low 30s but it could feel closer to 40 C after humidity is factored in. The evenings won't provide much relief, with temperature lows expected around 19 C. The Middlesex-London Health Unit issued an extended heat alert Friday, the fifth one this summer — surpassing the four issued last year. There have also been three air quality advisories this year, but none last year, the health unit said. Health officials are advising people to drink water often, watch for signs of heat exhaustion and check on those at risk for heat illnesses. They also suggest avoiding extreme exercise and limiting exposure to the heat. Signs of heat stroke can include red and hot skin, dizziness and nausea, the health unit said. A number of cooling centres are open to the public in London and Middlesex County, including at the library and community centres in the city. Find locations for London here, and the county at this link.
National Post
2 days ago
- National Post
Ontario hospital defends use of animals in research as critics speak out
A lawyer for a national animal rights organization says it was shocked to learn from 'brave whistleblowers' about the conditions animals undergoing experiments at London's St. Joseph's Hospital are experiencing. Article content 'We been working hard to find loving homes for the dogs and pigs at St. Joseph's,' said Alanna Devine, director of campaigns for Animal Justice. 'We have been in communication with the hospital asking they release the dogs and pigs for rehoming since whistleblowers reached out to us a couple of months ago. Article content Article content Article content A story published Wednesday in the National Post and other Postmedia papers, including the London Free Press, detailed how Lawson Research Institute – the research arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London – is secretly testing heart attack recovery using dogs and puppies on its sixth floor. Article content The dogs used at St. Joseph's come from U.S. breeders before being subjected to the experiments, Devine said. Article content Insiders say the dogs are in cages at St. Joseph's and are alone 23 hours a day, the story said. Article content Article content Article content Devine said she doesn't know how many dogs have died. Article content Article content 'We know a number of dogs have been killed based on information from the whistleblowers,' she said, adding there is no federal regulation of lab animals. Article content Animal Justice posted a story and photos about the research at Lawson Research Institute on its website Thursday. Article content The dogs have shown 'troubling repetitive behaviours' such as pacing, tail sucking and repeatedly dunking their faces in water, the story said. Article content Dogs are heard whimpering and screaming in pain during recovery, Animal Justice said. Article content 'Animal care staff are emotionally devastated when animals they bond with are killed,' the story said. Article content The Free Press requested an interview with Donna Ladouceur, chair of the board at St. Joseph's Health Care London. The hospital responded with a written statement from its communications department that said the story published by Postmedia 'contains several inaccuracies of fact.'
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
London, Ont. hospital defends use of dogs in heart research amid cruelty claims
A newly published report alleges dogs are being tested on and killed for human heart research at St. Joseph's Hospital. CTV London's Reta Ismail reports. St. Joseph's Health Care in London, Ont. is facing growing public and political scrutiny following allegations that dogs are being used and killed in cardiovascular research conducted at its Lawson Health Research Institute. The allegations stem from an investigative report published Wednesday by the Investigative Journalism Bureau in partnership with National Post. The report cites whistleblowers who claim the animals are being subjected to painful and prolonged procedures as part of research into human heart attack recovery. 'They call it the secret sixth floor,' said Robert Cribb, founder of the Investigative Journalism Bureau. 'It's there that [dogs] undergo procedures, which are effectively inducing heart failure to study its recovery. They can go on for as long as three hours, according to internal study protocol documents we reviewed.' The program, according to sources cited by CTV News, has been ongoing for several years. A 2019 research paper shows medical imaging of canine hearts used in related studies. In a statement to CTV News, St. Joseph's did not deny the use of dogs in research, but said, 'The story contains several inaccuracies of fact.' The hospital emphasized the necessity of the studies, saying they aim, '… to learn more about how to accurately image post-heart attack injury and healing that we cannot yet decipher using other models.' 'No other effective models currently exist for this specific line of inquiry,' the statement added. The hospital said its approach to animal care is rooted in 'respect, excellence, and compassion,' and that all animal research is guided by 'rigorous policies and procedures' established by both provincial and national oversight bodies. However, the whistleblowers dispute those claims. According to Cribb, who reviewed photos and video shared by insiders, the conditions raise ethical concerns. 'They're caged, there appears to be no beds, there's feces in the cages, and post-surgery there's certainly high-pitched whining,' he said. Animal Justice, a Canadian advocacy group, is calling for the immediate rehoming of the animals used in the research. 'We know there are serious questions about whether this research is needed or useful,' said Lawyer Alanna Devine, director of Campaigns at Animal Justice. 'Non-animal methods are being explored in cutting-edge science around the world. Canada is falling behind and so is St. Joseph's.' Meanwhile, Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, which regulates animal testing, acknowledged the issue in a statement to CTV News. Press Secretary Spencer Fair noted that the research received federal funding and said, 'We expect the federal government to ensure its funding recipients operate ethically, transparently, and in accordance with Ontario law.' In response to the controversy, CTV News also contacted London Health Sciences Centre. In a statement, the hospital confirmed its research institute conducts studies involving mice, rats, frogs, and pigs, but not dogs. Cribb acknowledged the importance of cardiovascular research but questioned the methods. 'Heart failure affects millions of Canadians, it's vitally important,' he said. 'The debate is over whether we need to kill dogs to do that.' CTV News reached out to Western University for comment. In a statement, the University said, 'Western is committed to the highest standards of animal care in research and teaching.' Adding that many of today's major medical and scientific breakthroughs, benefiting both humans and animals, would not have been possible without responsible animal research. 'The University takes a proactive, ethics-driven approach to research and is committed to providing the highest level of care for animals. All animal-based research activities at Western and our affiliated institutions (including Lawson) must be reviewed and approved by Western's Animal Care Committee (ACC), which oversees the Animal Ethics & Care Program. The ACC operates in alignment with the Ontario Animals for Research Act, the Canadian Council on Animal Care's Terms of Reference for Animal Care Committees and the Government of Canada's Agreement on Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions,' the statement reads. CTV has not been able to independently verify some of the claims made in the report.
