After I read that Iams does animal testing, I wrote them an email to get a comment. I thought you might want to read it as well:

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We are grateful that you wrote to us about our
research policy so that we may
provide the facts.

Like humans, our canine and feline companions are
faced with many threats to
their health. Millions of cats and dogs around the
world suffer from allergies,
skin and gastrointestinal diseases, kidney failure and
painful bone problems.

At The Iams Company, we work hard to advance
scientific understanding of how
nutrition can help pets resist and recover from such
diseases, and how this
understanding helps optimize their health so they can
lead happier and longer
lives. Research plays a key role in accomplishing
these goals.

Our research is governed by the following principles.

* The results must help veterinarians and pet owners
worldwide nutritionally
enhance the well-being of cats and dogs, and manage
important pet health
conditions.

* Studies will only be conducted if alternative,
non-animal methods or existing
research cannot answer the questions raised.

* We will ensure the humane treatment of cats and
dogs, and provide for animal
well-being, socialization and husbandry in a manner
compatible with the
company's philosophy, creating a total culture of
care. We will also meet or
exceed standards established by the Animal Welfare Act
of the US, the US
Department of Agriculture and Directive 86/609/EEC of
the European Union.

* We will not fund or participate in any study
requiring or resulting in the
euthanasia of cats or dogs. We will only conduct
research that is equivalent to
nutritional or medical studies acceptable on people,
including: urine, feces,
blood and immune cell analysis, allergy tests, and
skin and muscle biopsies, for
which adequate anesthesia and analgesics will be
provided whenever necessary.

* Research will be closely monitored at internal and
external facilities - with
the goal being to eliminate even minor pain or
discomfort and to create enriched
environments for the cats and dogs involved. To
enforce this principle, Iams
will place, at these facilities, a company-designated
and funded person
responsible for ensuring the well being of cats and
dogs. This trained,
qualified person will follow guidelines used at the
Paul F. Iams Technical
Center to make certain that cats and dogs are properly
cared for and socialized.

* We will test our foods on groups of cats or dogs
within the general population
who already suffer from target diseases or conditions.
However, we will not
contract for, nor conduct, any study involving
surgeries to create or mimic
diseases such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease,
kidney disease, or intentional
damage to other organs; nor will the company use
non-surgical methods to induce
or simulate diseases that are not acceptable in
nutritional or medical research
on humans; nor will the company fund any university
positions that may be
involved in such activities for the study of cat and
dog nutrition.

* We will not use, in any studies, animals that are
already induced with disease
or surgically altered through other research; nor will
the company conduct such
studies under the auspices of any industry association
or group.

* Our findings will be communicated to benefit others
who are seeking to improve
the health and well-being of cats and dogs, and to
help prevent repetition of
tests requiring animal involvement.

We are proud that we have led breakthroughs in the
health of cats and dogs, and
we are committed to continuing this tradition with the
principles outlined here
as our guide.

As a result of this research, we would like to share
some Verbatim Comments from
Iams customers about how our research has changed the
lives of their four-footed
family members.

We hope this information helps to clarify our research
policy. Thank you for
taking the time to explore the facts. If you have
additional questions, please
contact us at 800-525-4267 Monday through Friday from
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Eastern Time, or on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m.