Our latest investigation has uncovered the cruel use of dogs for student training by universities and veterinary medical schools in Japan. We’ve revealed that hundreds of dogs are bought from commercial dog suppliers by Japanese schools every year. 

The dogs are used for physiology and anatomy classes and for students to practice of their surgical skills. Treated as disposable learning tools, many of the dogs go through lots of unnecessary surgeries over many hours. They are cut open and stitched up by students many times, before being killed. 

At one university the dogs were kept in appalling conditions - alone in small metal cages with little space to move around.

Michelle Thew, CEO of Cruelty Free International, said: “The fatal and harmful use of dogs in veterinary training is a cruel, unethical and outdated practice. Many leading veterinary medical schools no longer deliberately cause suffering or kill dogs to train vets. There are credible and effective alternatives that can be used. We urge Japan to follow this example and end the cruel practice of using and killing live dogs for clinical and surgery practice.”

Vanessa-Mae, superstar violinist and Cruelty Free International global ambassador, said: “I can’t believe that so many dogs are suffering and dying in cruel veterinary training in Japan. It is unacceptable that this horrific practice is continuing, especially as there are better and more ethical alternatives available. As Cruelty Free International ambassador, I am proud to use my voice for animals. I call on the Japanese government to follow the example of many other countries around the world in banning the use of live dogs for surgical practice in universities and veterinary schools.”

Please sign the petition calling on the Japanese Government and Minister of Education, Mr Hirokazu Matsuno, to end this shocking practice.