PETA fighting to get records on Davis animals sold to U.

FARMINGTON — PETA is taking aim at Davis County.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filed a lawsuit against Davis County and county officials Tuesday in 2nd District Court, accusing the county of violating the state's Government Records Access and Management Act.

Repeated requests by PETA for records relating to about 100 dogs and cats sold by Davis County Animal Control to the University of Utah in 2009 have gone unheeded, according to the lawsuit.

PETA officials say the requested documents would help them give the public further insight into a mandatory pound seizure law, which PETA said the U. uses to buy dogs and cats from local animal shelters for invasive experiments.

"Animals whom people trusted Davis County to look after are being betrayed by the very people charged with protecting them," PETA vice president Kathy GuillermoPETA officials have said they don't believe the animal shelter warns people that dogs and cats surrendered to the shelter could be sold to the university for $15 per cat and $20 for a dog.

"We suspect that because they're so secretive about it and previous requests haven't found any forms," Guillermo said. "We want to show the people who these animals are (and) show what happened to them."

Officials with the Virginia-based organization said they're asking Utah residents to demand an end to pound seizure. PETA also plans to release a video of footage shot inside the shelter and U. animal laboratories.

e-mail: lgroves@desnews.com