Published: March 02, 2009 09:47 am      

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A state representative who is also a McAlester veterinarian says he knows from personal experience that animals used in the Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine aren’t mistreated.

District 17 state Rep. Brian Renegar, D-Blanco, owns and operates Renegar Animal Hospital in McAlester.

Renegar spoke in response to reports that Madeleine Pickens, who is the wife of gas and oilman T. Boone Pickens, had been critical of OSU’s vet school. T. Boone Pickens, who is originally from Holdenville, has donated millions of dollars to OSU.

Madeleine Pickens had been reported criticizing OSU’s vet school after she spoke with a student and had been quoted as saying the school uses “barbaric” practices. Pickens had been critical about the school performing surgery on live animals.

Renegar said he had heard from constituents from places such as Kiowa and Pittsburg who were concerned about the reports.

“We do surgery on live animals at the College of Veterinary Medicine — we always have,” said Renegar, who is a 1976 graduate of OSU’s vet school.

Renegar said an allegation is false that claimed some animal’s bones are purposely broken so veterinary students can have training in setting them or doing surgery.

“The animals we do surgery on are treated with dignity and respect,” Renegar said.

“These are animals taken from pounds that were going to be put to sleep anyway,” he said.

Renegar said the student that spoke with Pickens had objected to doing surgery on a live animal.

“There is a policy that if students do not want to do surgery on a live animal, they can do it on a cadaver,” Renegar said.

Renegar contends students who take that option miss some crucial training.

“Trust me, I would not have been as good a surgeon if I had only done surgery with cadavers,” he said. That’s because elements such as an animal’s blood pressure aren’t present on a cadaver.

“It’s just not the same,” Renegar said.

Renegar joined with District 33 State Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing, and District 56 state Rep. Phil Richardson, R-Minco, in delivering the bi-partisan show of support for the OSU veterinary school. All three are graduates of OSU with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

Renegar said animals are brought to the college every day which need veterinary care, including animals that need intricate procedures. Such procedures are performed by the veterinarians on the staff, but students can stand next to them and observe the work, according to Renegar.

Renegar said he never saw any of the animals used for surgery training mistreated.

“We name our surgery animals,” he said. “You’re not going to be cruel to something you name.”

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.