The Department of Transportation (DOT) is about as compassionate as a hit and run driver when it comes to animals. The DOT has sanctioned hideously cruel skin-corrosivity experiments to test hazardous chemicals on rabbits despite the fact these tests are completely unnecessary since there is a federally approved, non-animal test called Corrositexª available.

Animal tests are a one way street to pain and suffering. In order to test corrosive chemicals such as Savage Acid and Goodbye Graffiti, rabbits backs are shaved and corrosive chemicals are applied onto their raw skin and left for up to two weeks. The chemicals burn the skin, and the rabbits are given no pain relief. It's a dead end street for the rabbits who are killed after the test period.

Corrositexª, on the other hand, uses synthetic skin to accurately predict the effects of potentially corrosive substances on human skin, without hurting animals. The DOT is taking us all for a ride by using taxpayers' money to fund barbaric experiments on animals when a humane alternative exists.

Demand that the DOT yield to PETA's request that only non-animal tests, such as Corrositexª be used. Write:

The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta
The Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh St. S.W.
Washington, DC 20590
E-mail: norman.mineta@ost.dot.gov