love is an animal: BE A VOICE FOR WILLIAM!

Update: WILLIAM THE RESEARCH GOAT EUTHANIZED AFTER CAPTURE INVOLVING CAGES, TRANQUILIZER DARTS

Run free William.

The male goat, nicknamed William escaped on January 29, 2016 from University of Iowa Research Park in Coralville, while being transferred from a portable carrier to a vehicle.

William made a heroic bid for freedom and spent 10 days roaming the local area, garnering attention from homeowners who spotted him and followers of a Twitter account in his honor, before the University of Iowa police recovered him.

The animal has been used in painful orthopedic research as a part of a multi-year study funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. The University reports that it uses about 70,000 animals in research. The vast majority — as much as 99.5 percent — are mice, rats, fish, frogs and pigeons. There are also 14 goats.

Several animal sanctuaries specializing in former research subjects have offered to give William a permanent home. University of Iowa officials have turned down all requests to relocate the goat. William, they say, remains involved in federally funded research.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has called for an investigation of UI's handling of the goat, arguing that the animal's escape was the result of violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

William after is back at the UI Research Park

What you can do to help William:

➔ SIGN AND SHARE PETITION

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, RELEASE WILLIAM THE GOAT TO SANCTUARY

➔ CONTACT UNIVERSITY OF IOWA STAFF DIRECTLY

➔ SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND

To: president@uiowa.edu, dan-reed@uiowa.edu, stephen-pradarelli@uiowa.edu

Subject: PLEASE RELEASE WILLIAM THE GOAT TO A SANCTUARY!

After the goat William escaped on January 29, 2016 from University of Iowa Research Park, he is the center of widespread public concern. William deserves to live free from pain and torment. In addition, the animal is now unsuitable as a research subject due to roaming freely outside the lab environment.

We ask the University of Iowa to do the right thing and immediately start making arrangements to relocate this goat to an accredited sanctuary, to people who care and will let him live the rest of his life in peace & happiness.

Your name and country

➔ POST COMMENT ON UA FACEBOOK PAGE, URGING THEM TO LET WILLIAM GO TO THE SANCTUARY

Update, March 26, 2016
REPLY FROM DANIEL A. REED:

Thank you for your email.
We appreciate your comments. The University of Iowa takes the safety and health of its animals seriously.
However, because this animal is part of ongoing, federally funded research, the University of Iowa is not able to consider offers from members of the public or other organizations to take over its care.

Sincerely,
Daniel A. Reed
Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Computational Science and Bioinformatics Chair
Professor of Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Medicine University of Iowa