Tell Harvard to Send Lab Animals to Sanctuaries Not to Death

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Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site

Stand up now to stop this needless slaughter and demand a humane future for every life caught in the crossfire.

Tell Harvard to Send Lab Animals to Sanctuaries Not to Death

Hundreds of monkeys used in groundbreaking research at Harvard are now at risk—not because of failed experiments, but because the government pulled the funding needed to care for them1. These animals, many of them rhesus macaques, have spent years in controlled environments for studies on deadly diseases like tuberculosis2. Now, they may be euthanized simply because there’s no money left to feed or house them.

A Political Clash With Life-and-Death Consequences

In April 2025, the Trump administration froze over $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard University, retaliating after the school refused to comply with political demands to eliminate diversity programs, surrender admissions data, and enforce federal oversight3. The fallout has been immediate. Researchers received stop-work orders. Lifesaving medical trials halted. And the animals caught in the middle? Forgotten.

Scientists Speak Out as the Clock Ticks

Dr. Sarah Fortune, who leads a multi-lab tuberculosis vaccine study, warned that without urgent financial intervention, her lab's animals may be killed in the coming days2. “They’re so precious,” she said. “To just be asked to kill them halfway through the study...”

Other labs face the same crisis. A project exploring radiation countermeasures for cancer patients was shut down midstream. NASA’s collaboration with Harvard to develop organ-on-chip models for astronauts ended abruptly. Promising ALS and cancer detection studies have been shelved. Some researchers said they had days—maybe hours—before vital biological materials would degrade beyond use1.

The Ethical Crisis Is Just Beginning

Even as the science stalls, the ethical crisis deepens. These animals, who cannot speak for themselves, are now seen as expendable. But it doesn’t have to end this way.

Harvard has the power—and the moral obligation—to explore every option before choosing euthanasia. Accredited sanctuaries, foster networks, and rehoming programs can step in. But the university must act quickly, and with transparency. No animal should die just because paperwork and politics got in the way.

Call for Humane Action

Time is running out. We are calling on Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to commit to humane, life-affirming alternatives. Sign the petition now to demand that the university rehome these animals safely and ethically.

They served science. Let’s serve them now. Add your name to the petition today.

More on this issue:

  1. Kenneal Patterson, The Daily Beast (17 Apr 2025), "Harvard Will Euthanize Lab Animals after Trump Funding Cuts."
  2. Meredith Kile, People (17 Apr 2025), "Research Monkeys May Be Euthanized Because of Trump's Funding Freeze, Harvard Professors Warn."
  3. Global Desk, The Economic Times (17 Apr 2025), "Funding Freeze Pushes Harvard to the Brink."

The Petition

To the Leadership at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health,

We, the undersigned, urge you to take immediate, compassionate action to protect the lives of the animals currently housed in your research facilities who are at risk due to the ongoing federal funding freeze.

These animals—many of whom have spent their lives in service of scientific discovery—deserve dignity, safety, and care. Euthanizing them solely because of financial hardship is not only a moral failure but a betrayal of the values of science, which must include compassion and responsibility.

We call on you to adopt the following humane measures:

  • Prioritize rehoming animals through accredited wildlife and primate sanctuaries.
  • Establish partnerships with foster programs and rescue organizations experienced in laboratory animal care.
  • Delay any euthanasia plans until all reasonable efforts for rehoming or sanctuary transfer have been fully explored.
  • Engage the public in support, donations, and volunteer resources to assist in this emergency response.

This is a defining moment. The scientific community, animal welfare advocates, and the broader public are watching. Choosing mercy over expedience will honor the lives of these animals and reflect the integrity of your institution.

Let this be an opportunity for Harvard to lead—not just in research, but in ethics.

Together, we can create a better, more compassionate future for all beings—human and animal alike.

Sincerely,