A chilling investigation has revealed a disturbing reality within federally funded scientific research: dozens of dogs are being subjected to deliberately induced, severe strokes at the University of Chicago, only to be euthanized shortly after. Millions of taxpayer dollars from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation are fueling this agonizing practice.
The experiments, uncovered through public records requests, involve a methodical three-day process. First, baseline data is collected. Then, arteries are intentionally blocked, triggering massive strokes and measured using a “stroke scale.” Finally, the dogs are killed, as researchers acknowledge survival would mean prolonged and “significant suffering” without intensive, human-level care.
What makes this particularly unsettling is the nature of the research itself. The stroke treatment being tested has already demonstrated safety and efficacy in human trials, begging the question: why inflict such cruelty on innocent animals for seemingly redundant experimentation?
This isn’t an isolated incident of questionable spending. The National Science Foundation, already facing scrutiny for wasteful and inhumane animal testing, is deeply involved. A staggering $40.5 million in grants – including a current $24.7 million award – is flowing to the University of Chicago lab conducting these experiments.
The pattern of abuse extends far beyond strokes. Investigations have exposed a litany of disturbing projects funded by taxpayer dollars: puppies poisoned with experimental drugs, cats force-fed to obesity, and even the creation of “transgender” mice through invasive procedures.
One particularly egregious example, highlighted in a recent report, involved primates forced to play a version of Plinko after undergoing invasive brain surgery, all funded by a $14.6 million grant. These are not anomalies, but symptoms of a system desperately in need of reform.
Efforts to curb this waste and cruelty are gaining momentum. Lawmakers are stepping forward, with Representative Nancy Mace introducing an amendment to ban NSF funding for experiments causing pain to dogs and cats. This follows previous success in restricting similar funding within the military.
Senator Rand Paul has gone even further, suggesting the NSF should be shut down entirely due to its reckless spending. Senator Joni Ernst has repeatedly exposed wasteful projects, famously questioning the necessity of funding research involving shrimp on treadmills.
A potential turning point may be on the horizon. President Trump is reportedly considering Jim O’Neill, a vocal critic of animal abuse in research, to lead the NSF. O’Neill previously condemned experiments involving beagles, where puppies had their vocal cords removed to silence their cries.
O’Neill’s past statements demonstrate a clear concern for animal welfare, and his potential leadership could signal a dramatic shift in the NSF’s priorities. The question now is whether he will act to end this cycle of needless suffering and wasteful spending.
The revelations continue to fuel a growing movement demanding accountability and an end to taxpayer-funded animal cruelty. The fate of these animals, and countless others, hangs in the balance.
