But both the UW System and the Medical College do obtain dogs for medical research — from sources other than animal shelters. The Medical College used 140 dogs in its cardiovascular research lab last year and is on track to use 50 this year. The dogs were purchased for $200 each from a vendor in rural Minnesota that cares for abandoned dogs, said college spokesman Richard Katschke.
UW used 237 dogs last year for studies on cardiovascular disease, bone and cartilage healing, genetic conditions and other issues, according to Eric Sandgren, director of UW?s Research Animal Resources Center. They are not strays — they are “purpose bred” dogs, typically beagles, that are raised for research purposes, Sandgren said. The dogs come from two companies in the Madison area.