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Animal rights activists have petitioned the US Department of Agriculture to
reconsider its position that rats, mice and birds don’t fall under the Animal
Welfare Act, which protects larger lab animals. Researchers who receive federal
funds have to comply with other protection regulations. But privately funded
companies can use these creatures without restriction. Officials say they
wouldn’t have the money for inspections to enforce new rules. But last week,
activists promised to help raise the funds from Congress. “It looks like there
really will be some action,” says petitioner Barbara Orlans of Georgetown
University in Washington DC.