Testing is performed by faculty from various departments across the university, and is conducted on animals including dogs, rabbits, primates, pigs, sheep, gerbils, bobcats, ferrets, and coyotes.
This practice has received criticism from various individuals and organizations, including the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), members of the Washington House of Representatives, UW students, and paramedic Cindy Coker.
[6] In November of 2021 The University of Washington confirmed that it has ended the use of live animals including pigs for the training of paramedics.
[8] In February 2014, the USDA discovered that a guinea pig had died, after receiving inadequate pain relief following an operation three days earlier.
The judge determined that the Board of Regents violated the law on 24 occasions from 2012 to 2014, by discussing the animal lab and other business over dinner.