Washington– The U.S. Army will stop practicing shooting pigs and goats to help prepare medics to treat wounded soldiers in a combat zone, ending training outdated by simulators that simulate battlefield injuries.
A ban on “live fire” training involving animals is part of this year’s ban Annual Defense BillAlthough other uses of animals for wartime training would continue, the ban was supported by Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Republican from Florida who often focuses on animal rights issues.
Buchanan called the change “a major step forward in reducing unnecessary suffering in military practices.”
“With today’s advanced simulation technology, we can prepare our medics for the battlefield while minimizing harm to animals,” he said in a statement to The Associated Press. “As co-chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, I am proud to continue leading efforts to end outdated and inhumane practices.”
Buchanan’s office said the Defense Department will continue to allow training that involves stabbing, burning and using sharp objects on animals, while also allowing “weapon wounding,” which is when the military tests weapons on animals. Animal rights groups say the animals are supposed to be anesthetized during this training and testing.
The Pentagon referred comment on the new policy to the Defense Health Agency, which oversees the training. The agency said in an email that it was looking into the new ban.
Groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals declared victory, saying the change would spare the lives of thousands of animals each year and “represents a historic shift toward modern, human-relevant simulation technology.”
It is unclear how often the military uses animals for training. Previous defense bills and other legislation have sought to reduce its use of trauma training, according to him 2022 report from the Government Accountability OfficeIt is an independent agency serving Congress.
The GAO said the 2013 defense bill requires the Pentagon to submit a report outlining a strategy for transitioning to human-based training methods. A 2018 law requires the Defense Secretary to ensure the military uses simulation technology “to the greatest extent practicable” or unless the use of animals is deemed necessary by the medical chain of command.
The GAO report said the animals were placed under anesthesia and then euthanized.
“Live animals such as pigs and goats are used in trauma training because their organs and tissues are similar to humans, and they have biodiversity that can complicate treatment and provide opportunities to control medical conditions,” the report stated.
But groups like the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine say anesthetized pigs and goats do little to prepare doctors or cadaver personnel to treat wounded soldiers. They said the appearance of the “cut-off suits” that people wear has become much better at imitating an injured, groaning and writhing human.
“The big argument is that this is a living thing, they have to take care of it, and there is this level of realism,” said Erin Griffith, a retired Navy doctor and member of the doctors’ panel. “But repeating what happens when their friend gets shot and bleeds out and wakes up is a whole different thing.”