Ontario will prohibit research testing on dogs and cats, Premier Doug Ford announced on Monday, labeling the practice as "cruel." At a news conference in London, Ontario, Ford stated, "You aren’t going to use pets — dogs or cats — to experiment on any longer. Simple as that. We just don’t do that, it’s cruel, and it’s unacceptable."

The decision follows revelations from two whistleblowers who reported concerns about dogs being subjected to cardiac research at the Lawson Research Institute, part of St. Joseph’s Health Care London. These whistleblowers contacted Animal Justice, an animal rights organization, which then connected them with the University of Toronto’s Investigative Journalism Bureau. An article published earlier this month detailed how the dogs, primarily puppies, were used in experiments and subsequently killed for their internal organs to be examined.

In light of these findings, the research institute has decided to cease all testing on dogs after discussions with provincial officials. St. Joseph’s Health Care London stated that it conducted its research under proper authorities and adhered to all regulations. The hospital emphasized that both Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration require animal-tested protocols to demonstrate efficacy and safety before new treatments can be approved for human use. They also noted that animal testing is only performed when no scientifically valid alternatives exist.

The hospital has since halted its research, which it described as "groundbreaking" and instrumental in advancing cardiac care and treatment. Following the news of the testing, Ford expressed gratitude to the whistleblower, calling them a "champion" for coming forward. He also issued a warning to other researchers, stating, "Now I’m gonna start looking for everyone else. If there’s anyone else out there that’s doing this to animals, come clean, because we’re gonna catch you."

Animal Justice welcomed the announcement of the ban. Executive Director Camille Labchuk remarked, "Ontarians love our pets like family, and they should never be made to suffer in cruel experiments. But we hope this is just the beginning. Ontario currently allows lost and abandoned cats and dogs in shelters to be sold to experimenters. It’s important to close that loophole and to pass laws making sure animals get a second chance and can be adopted after experiments."