In October 2004, Animal People magazine brought Cincinnati's Best Friends Animal Society, one of the fastest-growing and most increasingly influential animal charities in the world, together with senior scientists and representatives from Procter & Gamble and Iams. PETA's and other animal lovers' concerns about Procter & Gamble and Iams animal testing were addressed and discussed in this unprecedented conference.

While the conference was not called to address the Iams/PETA concerns, much of what was discussed can be applied to those specific concerns. For instance, it was brought to the attention of Iams that some of their outside animal research facilities were mistreating non-Iams animals after a PETA investigation. Iams shortly thereafter announced they would no longer utilize outside facilities for their animal tests. Iams brought their animal testing either in-house, into pet owners' homes, or into facilities where animals were already living so they could have full control over the treatment of the animals.

Also addressed in the meeting was the extent to which Procter & Gamble and Iams are committed to developing alternatives to animal research. Procter & Gamble, Iams, PETA, and other animal welfare organizations all support the three Rs of animal research--refine, reduce, replace. In fact, Iams already uses 17 alternative methods and they have a director of alternative research dedicated to this effort.

Some of the Iams/PETA concerns stem from research conducted in the 1980s and early 1990s. With the help of parent company Procter & Gamble, Iams has since developed noninvasive, nonlethal alternatives to animal research. Iams also published all of their research findings so that other researchers around the world can avoid conducting these controversial studies in the future.

Procter & Gamble has strict protocols for its companies' animal research. First, they must search scientific literature to see if similar tests may have been done that can provide the required information. If not, the next step is to try to find a non-animal test that can satisfy the requirements. Procter and Gamble animal testing is only conducted as a last resort and then researchers must use the method that involves the fewest animals and the shortest duration.

Iams, PETA, and other animal welfare organizations all have similar goals, to reduce and ultimately eliminate animal testing, to work toward eliminating regulatory requirements for research involving animals wherever possible, to encourage others in our communities to use alternative methods, and to advance the health and well being of animals around the world.