This spring, communities will host March of Dimes' WalkAmerica fundraiser. Many caring individuals participate in this event. Sadly though, many of the funds raised in WalkAmerica go directly to animal experiments that are unlikely to help babies.

As per the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, animal experiments are notoriously bad predictors of human birth defects and many lead us in the wrong direction completely. As a nurse, I urge all readers to check out the list of organizations bearing the Humane Charity Seal of Approval at www.HumaneSeal.org. These charities help people with various illnesses but do not experiment on animals. A recent poll by Opinion Research Corporation International asked 1,000 adults how they prefer their charitable donations be utilized. The majority said they would be more likely to donate to a health charity that does not conduct animal experiments.

The Council on Humane Giving, a coalition of physicians and animal protection organizations, developed the Humane Charity seal of approval, a stamp of approval that charitable dollars are not spent on research using animals. At HumaneSeal.org you will find a list of cruelty free organizations committed to promoting human health through patient services, health education and vital research without the use of animals. The March of Dimes could help more babies by using the monies collected directly for prenatal and pediatric preventative health and wellness programs and non-animal research projects. We need not kill animal babies to help human babies.

Suzanne Dragan

Aberdeen Host, "Animal Talk" on AM

WCTC