India-born Democrat Representative Shri Thanedar is facing renewed backlash over a 2010 animal cruelty controversy tied to his former pharmaceutical testing company.
The Michigan Democrat, who is pushing to impeach President Donald Trump, is facing accusations of abandoning over 100 dogs, including beagles, and monkeys used in lab testing after his company closed.
What happened back then?
Thanedar, who represents Michigan’s 13th congressional district, is accused of abandoning more than 100 dogs—including beagles—and dozens of monkeys at a New Jersey lab after his company, AniClin Preclinical Services, abruptly shut down following the bankruptcy of its parent firm, Azopharma.
According to Huff Post, after the New Jersey laboratory’s closure, local animal welfare advocates notified officials about 118 beagles discovered confined within the premises. The facility was deserted following its financial collapse, while animal welfare advocates found the beagles remained trapped inside the vacant laboratory.
With no official caretakers, former employees reportedly scaled fences to feed and water the animals until two rescue organizations stepped in, the USA Today reported.
Earlier on July 4, two animal welfare organisations collaborated to rescue the beagles from the closed facility, transferring them to shelters for adoption placement.
A video by the Times Herald-Record showed the emaciated dogs arriving at a staging area where volunteers cleaned and cared for them.
A California-based animal rights group, Defense of Animals, later rescued 55 long-tailed macaque monkeys from the same site.
What Shri Thanedar said?
In response to the renewed criticism, Thanedar on Thursday told DailyMail, “These attacks are completely false and have been repeatedly litigated. When the lab was closed all of the animals were given to happy homes. In my long business career, I am proud to report that no animal was hurt or died under my watch.”
Thanedar emphasised his record on animal welfare as a legislator, saying, “In Congress, I have made animal rights a top priority. I have a 100% record in protecting animal rights as a lawmaker, and I was honored to be awarded the Humane Society’s highest legislative award not just once, but two years in a row. I look forward to building on my strong animal rights records this Congress and for years to come.”
He added that the situation was out of his control once Bank of America took over the facility following bankruptcy. “It is my understanding that Bank of America made arrangements to assign caretakers for the animals and secure homes for them, but those decisions came from the bank after I left the company… I am an animal lover and completely understand the sensitivity of this issue,” he continued.
Thanedar also stated, “No animal was harmed or subjected to any harmful conditions. No electric experiments were conducted.”
Thanedar, a chemist by profession, continues to hold political ambitions, having received 21% support in a recent Democratic primary poll. He filed seven articles of impeachment against Donald Trump earlier this week. He accused Trump of unlawful deportations, defying court orders, and enacting damaging tariffs.
“Donald Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that he is unfit to serve as President and represents a clear and present danger to our nation’s constitution and our democracy,” the Congressman Thanedar said in a video posted on X.
“We cannot wait for more damage to be done. Congress must act. This is not about partisanship. It’s about protecting our democracy and ensuring that no one, not even a President, is above the law,” Thanedar added.
