EVERETT — The Everett Police Department is investigating an animal welfare complaint filed by the Humane Society of the U.S. after SNBL USA confirmed last week that a monkey died at its facility.
Everett police Sgt. Jerry Strieck said the incident, which took place in November, was part of the investigation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture looked into it at the time, but has not issued any violation report to date.
Drugs in the early stage of development are tested on primates at SNBL’s animal testing laboratory in south Everett.
Jim Klaassen, vice president of operations, told The Herald a cynomolgus monkey died when it wasn’t taken out of its cage before the cage went through cleaning in which very hot water was used. He called the accidental death a rare occurrence for the facility.
A former animal manager for SNBL who talked about the monkey’s death to KIRO-TV last week received a $1,000 reward from the animal rights group PETA. Another group, Stop Animal Exploitation Now, said it is conducting its own “independent investigation” into the incident.
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