Given the position of CAAT, expressed clearly in its mission statement (see accompanying item), it is not surprising that radical animal rights activists have not embraced the center. However, over the years, I have learned that many academicians who are biomedical researchers also have a negative view of the center, a view that is usually based on ignorance and/or misconceptions about CAAT, its mission, and its activities. When my academic colleagues learn that I am associated with CAAT, they are usually surprised, and the news is met with a chilly response. When I am asked by them, "Why are you involved with CAAT?" the implication is usually "Why do you associate with an organization working against the use of animals in research?
Further discussion often reveals one or more misconceptions. Some colleagues are not familiar with how CAAT is supported and assume wrongly that animal rights activists are major contributors. ...
