After many years of laboring against animal research, the animal rights movement has gained momentum in Madison in recent months. Research opponents won a favorable court ruling earlier this month, packed a room for a public debate in March, and got the Dane County Board to take up the issue. But despite increased public attention, animal rights activists say there has been little change when it comes to the use of monkeys and other animals in scientific studies. “What weâ??re up against is still huge,” said Rick Marolt, a research opponent and member of the Madison-based Alliance for Animals. “Real change is still difficult and could be quite a ways off. But there is something rare going on.” Their efforts have also been buoyed by some high profile cases at UW-Madison.
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