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Georgia university under fire for dental experiments on dogs

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A leading Georgia university is under fire for doing dental experiments on dogs.

The Humane Society of the United States is demanding a halt to the government-funded research work.

Georgia Regents, the university performing this research, says it's needed to develop safe and effective dental procedures for people. But the Humane Society says the dental testing on dogs should stop.

It was revealed in a short undercover documentary that went online Wednesday.

The video shows what it says is undercover video of an animal research lab at Georgia Regents in Augusta where human dental implants are tested on dogs. A woman in the video says their teeth were pulled out and replaced.

Although the dogs are sedated, those doing the investigation say the dogs suffer in the research process.

"We consider these experiments with the dogs to be unnecessary and painful," said Wayne Pancelle of the Humane Society of the United States.

The Humane Society says the testing is being done to compare a dental implant invented by university researchers --- in conjunction with a private company--- to a competing implant.

The organization also says the research dogs are coming from a provider under federal investigation.

"The dogs were obtained through this disreputable process of working through random-source classwhi 'B' dealers," Pancelle said.

The Humane Society says the funded research is not required by law, and testing alternatives are available that don't require the use of animals.

"I can't believe it's something that's actually happening," Pancelle said.

An Atlanta Humane Society representative said she wasn't aware of the controversial research and finds it alarming.

"I don't understand why someone would put the animals through this. I mean, it's horrible," Karla Slocumb said.

In a news release, Georgia Regents said it abides by all federal and state laws and procedures in animal testing, and animals do not suffer in the process.

While much of the testing is taxpayer funded, the dental experiment on dogs was funded by the company.