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Veterans Affairs said its testing of dogs had gone towards research on how they help with post-traumatic stress disorder and diabetes. Reuters

An animal rights group accused the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of performing medical experiments on dogs at several facilities in Virginia, Military Times reported Tuesday.

The White Coat Waste Project, which has attempted to end government funding for such experiments, claimed that several facilities in the state were inducing heart attacks, performing operations on dogs’ brains and simulated stomach ailments that would severely injure, or “mutilate,” and possibly kill the dogs.

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The activists penned a letter to VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal, as well as VA leaders and members of Congress, in which they stated the McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond had the most reports of conducting the questionable experiments.

The testing and research was reportedly for diabetes, how the brain functions and how dogs can help those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, which has affected many veterans.

The VA, in turn, said it was “providing the best care and services to the nation’s veterans is paramount to the department” and pointed to such advancements as the creation of the pacemaker and health records.

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The accusations appeared to face a two-front battle from both of the country’s political parties.

“Just as the VA was held accountable for delivering subpar care to our nation’s veterans, it should answer for the possible abuse of animals and waste of taxpayer funds on haphazard research,” Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and member of the House Committee on Financial Services said in a statement to Military Times. “Members of both parties have asked the federal government to take a closer look at the animal research it administers, in an effort to save innocent animals from harm and reduce expenses when viable alternatives to animal-based testing exist.”

The White Coat Project, according to its official website, claimed the government has used more than $15 billion a year to experiment not only on dogs but cats, monkeys and other animals.