News Releases
FBR silenced while trying to give
animals a voice
March 6, 2003
An image of the controversial poster rejected
by malls in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and California. |
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Washington –
Fearing protests, shopping centers in Maryland, New York,
Pennsylvania and California have refused to accept paid, “Mallscape”
advertising from the Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR).
The ads, part of an innovative, new public education campaign,
entitled Survivors,
have been designed to promote recent veterinary advances made
possible through biomedical research.
The Survivors ads feature portrait
photography of two cats and two dogs – Pookie, Lucy,
Maggie and Buddy – who represent the millions of pets
in America that have benefited from biomedical research involving
animals. |
But when FBR recently attempted to purchase space
for the ad, the non-profit, educational organization was told by
the Mallscape advertising broker that four shopping malls were afraid
it would draw protests and had therefore rejected it.
“We are deeply disappointed,” said
FBR President Frankie L. Trull. “Twenty-seven
other shopping centers in nine other states accepted the Survivors
posters without hesitation – and they are being erected today,
in some of the finest malls in America. We believe its message has
great significance for the almost 60 per cent of American households
that have pets and want them to have long, happy and healthy lives.”
Pacemakers, CAT scans, MRIs, cardiac, orthopedic,
cataract and transplant surgery, new techniques for minimally invasive
surgery, linear accelerator radiation therapy and specially designed
fertility drugs are just a few of the ingenious innovations for
companion animal health that were developed as a direct result of
biomedical research conducted with animals in the laboratory.
FBR represents a community whose members have devoted
their lives to medical research and discovery. The goal of the Survivors
campaign, launched on February 20th, is to promote public respect
and appreciation for the little known fact that biomedical research
involving laboratory animals plays a key role in advancing veterinary
medicine as well as human medicine.
Added Ms. Trull: “It is our hope that Survivors
will inspire public understanding and support for America’s
biomedical research community by giving animals a voice in this
debate, even though this vital research is typically vilified by
animal activists.
“All across America, threats of harassment
by animal extremists are increasing – and sadly, these threats
are working. I would encourage any organization targeted by these
hooligans to stand up for their convictions and refuse to be intimidated.”
Dr. Theresa Fossum, professor
of small animal medicine and surgery at the Texas A&M University’s
College of Veterinary Medicine, is the official spokesperson for
Survivors. Sixteen months ago, she performed an historic cardiac
bypass on a young Golden Retriever, using a surgical technique that
was originally developed to correct congenital heart defects in
children but had never been successfully performed on a companion
animal.
Dr. Fossum serves on FBR’s Board of Governors,
which also includes seven Nobel Laureates, 12 members of the American
Academies of Arts and Sciences, 13 fellows of the National Academy
of Sciences and a former surgeon general. Its chairman is Dr.
Michael DeBakey, internationally recognized heart surgeon,
scholar and distinguished medical statesman. He is our country’s
most honored physician and has received 57 honorary degrees from
colleges and universities around the world. Dr. DeBakey is a recipient
of the prestigious Lasker Award for Research, the Presidential Medal
of Freedom with Distinction, the National Medal of Science and the
United Nations Lifetime Achievement Award, among many others. In
2000, he was named a “Living Legend” by the Library
of Congress.
Survivors was created by the Chicago ad agency & Wojdyla.
The malls that rejected the ads are:
- Jefferson Valley, Yorktown Heights, NY
- Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa, CA
- Bowie Town Center, Bowie, MD and
- Granite Run Mall, Media, PA.
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