Where do the animals come from?
PIF dogs and cats have been rescued from a variety of situations. Some are surrendered by owners who can no longer care for them for a variety of reasons. Others are found as strays, and still others come from animal shelter facilities where they might have otherwise been euthanized. Many of these animals find themselves homeless because their owners are either unable or unwilling to care for them. These animals are not abandoned by their own choice and deserve a second chance at life.
For reliable results, most experiments depend on animals being free of infection or disease, which can best be achieved if they come from a known source with fully documented breeding histories. Cats and dogs and all mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, quail, primates, ferrets, gerbils and genetically modified pigs and sheep must be obtained from designated (licensed) breeding establishments. Exemptions from this rule are rarely granted. Stray pets are never used.
