St. Joseph’s Hospital in Ontario has announced it will stop using dogs in cardiac research following an investigation that revealed controversial practices. The decision comes after decades of secretive experiments that induced heart attacks in dogs, which were detailed in a recent report.

The Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s stated it will “immediately cease research studies involving dogs” after discussions with provincial authorities. The statement acknowledged the impact this decision will have on ongoing research and the teams involved, emphasizing the importance of the government of Ontario as a partner in their work.

This announcement follows a report by the Investigative Journalism Bureau that exposed a hidden dog testing program. The investigation described experiments that subjected dogs to heart attacks lasting up to three hours, based on internal documents reviewed by journalists and experts.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed his concern over the findings, stating, “I was deeply disturbed by last week’s reports of inhumane medical research taking place on dogs at St. Joseph’s Health Care London.” He praised the hospital's decision to halt the research, asserting that the government will ensure all medical research is conducted ethically. Ford labeled the research as “inhumane” and vowed to end similar practices at other institutions if discovered.

The investigation revealed that dogs were covertly transported from a U.S. breeder to the hospital, where they were subjected to procedures on a floor referred to by some staff as the “secret sixth floor.” After the experiments, the dogs were euthanized, and their hearts were removed for further study. Whistleblowers reported that the remains were disposed of in garbage bags and barrels.

One whistleblower expressed relief at the program's termination, stating, “This is unbelievable. We need to keep this momentum up until these dogs are released and we see actual results.” Currently, eight dogs are still at the hospital, with some reportedly healthy and awaiting procedures.

Staff were instructed to keep the research confidential, with directives to play loud music to drown out barking and to avoid discarding dog food bags that could attract attention. Images and videos from the lab showed dogs in cages, some in unsanitary conditions, and one video depicted a dog whimpering after a procedure.

A vigil was held outside St. Joseph’s Hospital, attended by over 100 people, to honor the dogs involved in the research and protest the testing practices. The hospital maintained that its research adhered to ethical standards and was necessary for advancing medical treatments. However, this claim has been met with skepticism.

Experts have debated the necessity of using dogs in such research. Nicholas Dodman, a professor emeritus at Tufts Veterinary School, criticized the practices, stating, “Most people understand that when the blood supply to an organ is shut off in the case of a heart attack, it’s excruciatingly painful.” He argued that the research was kept hidden until it became public.

Dr. John Pippin, a cardiovascular surgeon advocating for animal-free research, noted the anatomical differences between dogs and humans, stating, “Dogs are not 50-pound humans…They have distinctly different anatomy.”

Animal rights advocates celebrated the end of the program, with Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, calling it a significant victory for the dogs. Animal Justice is now urging St. Joseph’s to find homes for the remaining dogs.

In response to the investigation, St. Joseph’s Hospital claimed that the report contained inaccuracies, which they plan to address separately. However, no further communication regarding these inaccuracies has been received.