>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US WITH THIS LOOK AT BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING FOR KPBS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI SAN DIEGO SCHOOLS, WE WILL CHECK TO SEE THE PROGRESS BEING MADE TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE IN THE LOCAL TV TEACHER SHORTAGE.

AND WE RESEARCH COMPANION ANIMALS AND WHY ONE PARTICULAR BREED OF DOG SPENCE YEARS AND RESEARCH LABS.

AND SPECIALIZED CARE FOR SENIORS.

SEE WHY SAN DIEGO'S AHEAD OF THE CURVE WHEN IT COMES TO EMERGENCY SERVICES.

>>> WE START WITH SAN DIEGO COUNTY ESCALATING ITS HANDLING OF LOCAL MONKEYPOX CASES IT KPBS HEALTH REPORTER, MATT HOFFMAN, TALKS ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO GET INFORMATION TO THOSE MOST AT RISK.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERVISORS RATIFIED A MONKEYPOX LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCY FIRST ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK.

BUT THE ISSUE OF VACCINE SUPPLY IS STILL FRONT AND CENTER.

>> THE REALITY IS WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF VACCINES, EVERYONE KNOWS THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A VACCINE BOX IN THE BASEMENT.

WE ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STAND THE STATE VACCINES.

>> COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE REQUESTED 25,000 MONKEYPOX VACCINES, BUT SO FAR HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT 1/5 OF THAT.

THE VIRUS CAUSES FLULIKE SYMPTOMS AND PAINFUL RASHES OR LESIONS, TO PEOPLE BEEN HOSPITALIZED IN SAN DIEGO WERE NO DEATHS REPORTED.

WHEN SOMEONE IS SYMPTOMATIC THEY ARE ABLE TO TRANSMIT THE VIRUS THROUGH CLOSE CONTACT, INCLUDING .

IT CAN ALSO SPREAD THROUGH CLOTHING OR BEDDING >> IF SOMEBODY THINKS THEY HAVE MONKEYPOX THEY MEET ISOLATE, MEANING TO SAY WHAT FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

IF YOU ARE WORKING, THAT MEANS NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> DR. ELIZABETH OLSEN FROM SAN DIEGO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES GAVE UPDATES TO PROVIDERS ON THE OUTBREAK TUESDAY.

OF THE KNOWN CASES, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IDENTIFY AS OR BISEXUAL.

HEALTH OFFICIALS WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT MONKEYPOX CAN INFECT ANYONE, AND THEIR FIRST SEEING INCREASE CASES LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

>> NO SINGLE COMMUNITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE MONKEYPOX VIRUS CAN INFECT ANYONE REGARDLESS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AGE, OR GENDER.

>> VACCINE SUPPLIES REMAIN STRAINED, BUT FEDERAL REGULATORS UPON THEIR WORKAROUND.

THE FDA HAS GIVEN EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION FOR MONKEYPOX VACCINES TO BE ADMINISTERED JUST UNDER THE SKIN, AS OPPOSED TO INTO TISSUE OR MUSCLE.

THIS PROCESS CALLED INTRADERMAL INJECTIONS COULD TURN WINDOWS INTO FIVE.

>> WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO HEAR THIS NEWS FORTHCOMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THIS WILL HELP US VACCINATE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAIN AT HIGHEST RISK.

>> STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. ERICA PENN BREATHED TO CALIFORNIA SELECT COMMITTEE ON A MONKEYPOX TUESDAY AND SHE SAID THAT MONKEYPOX TESTING IS CONTINUING TO RAMP UP, WITH MORE MAPS COMING ONLINE.

>> WITH THESE LESIONS, AND RELEARNING IT WITH OTHER PARTNERS IN ACADEMIC PARTNERS WHAT OTHER SITES CAN BE TESTED.

>> STATE SENATOR SCOTT WEINER CHAIRS THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON MONKEYPOX AND HE SAYS OFFICIALS HAVE TO GET AHEAD OF THIS.

>> THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT THIS VIRUS THAT ENSURES ONLY INFECT AND BISEXUAL MEN.

BUT AT THE MOMENT THAT IS WHO IS BEING IMPACTED AND THAT IS WHERE THE RESOURCES NEED TO GO.

>> NEARLY 1500 DOSES ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO THE SAN DIEGO HEALTH PROVIDERS THIS WEEK.

SOME ARE BEING KEPT IN RESERVE FOR CLOSE CONTACTS OR PROBABLE CASES.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>> THOSE WHO COVER THE START OF THE A.I.D.S.

EPIDEMIC SAY THEY SEE PARALLELS TO WHAT WENT ON 40 YEARS AGO.

KENNY ALVARADO TALK TO ONE VETERAN REPORTER URGING OTHERS NOT TO REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES.

>> Reporter: DECADES BEFORE MONKEYPOX, ANOTHER VIRUS WAS PREDOMINANTLY AFFECTING MEN.

HIV/A.I.D.S.. HIV/A.I.D.S.

>> PEOPLE LOOK AT THE CONDITION AND THEY LOSE SIGHT IS A PERSON IN.

>> REPORTER EGGPLANT WAS AT GROUND ZERO FOR THE EPIDEMIC.

>> SO STRANGE BUT IT WAS KIND OF A GIFT FOR ME TO BE AN OPENLY MAN AND A REPORTER WORKING IN SAN FRANCISCO.

AND SO I WAS ABLE TO TELL THIS STORY FROM MY OWN PERSPECTIVE AND SEEING THAT IT WAS AFFECTING MY FRIENDS.

IT WAS ALWAYS MORE THAN A STORY TO ME.

I WANTED TO GET IT RIGHT.

>> AND GETTING IT RIGHT WASN'T EASY.

ESPECIALLY WHEN MANY, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DID NOT THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT.

>> THE SUBJECT CAME UP AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHEN REAGAN WAS PRESIDENT.

IN THE PRESS ROOM, THE PRESS SECRETARY WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS NEW DISEASE, A.I.D.S., A.I.D.S.

IN THE ROOM LAUGHED.

>> IT IS A PRETTY SERIOUS THING ONE IN EVERY THREE PEOPLE WHO GET THIS HAVE DIED.

I WONDER IF HE IS AWARE.

IS THERE I DO NOT HAVE IT, DO YOU?

>> YOU DO NOT HAVE IT, I'M RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT.

AT THE TIME PLANTE SAYS THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE VIRUS, SO HIS STATION, KPIX, MADE A REAL COMMITMENT TO COVER IT.

>> WE WERE GOING ON THE AIR EVERY NIGHT TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO GET THE DISEASE, WHAT WAS THE NEW TREATMENTS, OR ANY OF THE DRUGS WORKING.

REMEMBER, THIS WAS AT A TIME WHEN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION WAS BARELY TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> STILL, HE SAID A LACK OF INFORMATION LED TO FEAR AND ABUSE OF THE COMMUNITY, LIVING IN FEAR THEMSELVES.

>> PEOPLE GETTING KICKED OUT OF THEIR APARTMENTS BEFORE BEING FIRED, THERE WERE NO LEGAL PROTECTIONS BACK THEN.

IT WAS REALLY AWFUL.

>> PLANT SAID BY THE TIME THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID THE WORD A.I.D.S.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, 23,000 AMERICANS HAVE DIED OF THE VIRUS.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PARALLELS TO THE BEGINNING OF A.I.D.S.

THERE WAS INACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT BACK THEN.

>> HE SAID THE CURRENT MONKEYPOX EMERGENCY IS GIVING HIM FLASHBACKS TO THOSE EARLY DAYS WHEN HE COVERED A A.I.D.S.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF MEN BEING SCAPEGOATED AND BLAMED FOR A.I.D.S.

AND YOU CAN BET THERE ARE MEN BEING BLAMED TODAY FOR THIS.

THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY THE DEATHS WILL GET WORSE.

>> HE URGES HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO GET OUT FRONT ONCE AND FOR ALL AND EXPLAIN EXACTLY HOW THE VIRUS IS TRANSMITTED, AND DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GET VACCINES TO HELP STOP MONKEYPOX FROM SPREADING.

>> WILL HAVE A LOT MORE CASES.

IT IS PREVENTABLE.

WHERE IS THE VACCINE?

WHERE CAN PEOPLE GET THE VACCINE?

GET THE WORD OUT AND DO YOUR JOB.

>> PLANT HAS EARNED EVERY AWARD IMAGINABLE FOR HIS A.I.D.S.

COVERAGE, INCLUDING A PEABODY.

>> NEARLY 3000 CASES OF A.I.D.S.

HAVE HIT THE CITY AND HAVE THIS PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

PEOPLE HAVE REAL LIFE INTO THESE QUILTS, TEDDY BEARS, PHOTOGRAPHS, LOCKS OF HAIR AND A LOT OF LOVE LETTERS.

>> BUT HIS GOAL BACK THEN WAS TO SAVE LIVES.

HE BELIEVES THAT REPORTERS NOW ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT.

>> DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TELL THE TRUTH.

I THINK THERE IS FEAR, PARTICULARLY AMONG STRAIGHT JOURNALISTS, THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO OFFEND THE COMMUNITY BY SAYING YOU ARE GETTING IT FROM .

IT IS NOT A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE, BUT IT IS THE CLOSE CONTACT.

I THINK JOURNALISTS HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT IT AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THE BACKLASH.

>> HE SAYS HE LEARNED A LOT FROM COVERING A.I.D.S., AND A LOT OF IT ABOUT HIMSELF.

>> ONCE YOU SLAY YOUR DRAGONS IN LIFE IT MAKES YOU STRONGER.

THAT WAS MY BIG FEAR, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP LIKE A LOT OF KIDS.

AND ONCE I CAME OUT, I STARTED TO RELAX AND ENJOY LIFE.

>> KENNY ALVARADO KPBS NEWS.

>> THE COUNTY HAS A DEDICATED WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST CASE COUNTS, INFORMATION ON VACCINES IN A VIRTUAL FORUM THAT WAS HELD THURSDAY NIGHT.

FIND IT ON SANDIEGOCOUNTY.GOV.

>> THE STAFF SITUATION AT LOCAL SCHOOLS IS IMPROVING WHICH THE PANDEMIC DEALT A BLOW TO TEACHERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE VISIT US ONE SAN DIEGO TO SEE OTHER TEACHERS ARE GETTING READY FOR A NEW YEAR.

PORT PORT THESE NEW TEACHERS ARE WARMING UP FOR THE FALL SEMESTER.

THEY ARE ON STAFF AT THE EMPOWER LANGUAGE ACADEMY, A SMALL, DUAL LANGUAGE, CHARTER SCHOOL.

TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF ARE GETTING READY TO WELCOME 160 STUDENTS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

GRADES K THROUGH SIX.

>> WE WANT TO BRING IT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND WE WANT TO HAVE THE TEAM IN PLACE TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.

>> THE CHARTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRINCIPAL STRUGGLED TO FILL TEACHING POSITIONS BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATORS.

BUT SHE DID IT.

>> I CAME ACROSS EMPOWER ON FACEBOOK.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE NEW HIRES AND A FIRST YEAR TEACHER.

AND AMANDA IS A NEW HIRE AS WELL, NEW TO THIS SCHOOL, AND IT IS JUST HER THIRD YEAR TEACHING.

SHE IS WILLING TO FACE WHATEVER THE FALL SEMESTER BRINGS WITH HER LESSON PLANS.

>> BUILDING A COMMUNITY WITHIN THE CLASSROOM AT THE VERY BEGINNING AND SETTING THAT THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR.

>> TEACHER SHORTAGE IS TOUGH ESPECIALLY AFTER COVID, DURING COVID, A VERY INTERESTING TIME.

BUT I BECAME A TEACHER TO HELP STUDENTS AND BE A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

>> I HOPE THEY LEARN TO LOVE LEARNING, AND WILL ENJOY BEING HERE WITH THEIR PEERS, WITH ME AND LEARN TO LOVE LANGUAGE AS WELL.

>> THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION STARTED ITS NEW EDUCATOR PATHWAYS WEBSITE, WITH RESOURCES AND INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET TEACHING JOBS.

THE COUNTY REPORTS ABOUT 350 TEACHER OPENINGS NOW DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THE SITUATION IS FLUID, THERE IS A NEED TO KEEP RECRUITING.

THIS FALL THE COUNTY WILL LAUNCH A NEW INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR TEACHER CANDIDATES WORKING TO EARN THEIR MULTI-SUBJECT CREDENTIALS.

THE PROGRAM WILL ALLOW THEM TO GET A FULL-TIME JOB WITH BENEFITS, WHILE RECEIVING MENTORSHIP AND OTHER SUPPORT.

>> TO DO THAT IT REALLY TAKES SOME REFINED TEACHING SKILLS.

AND THEY COME IN READY TO TEACH.

THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER, AS WE ALL SHOULD.

>> ALL THE STAFF POSITIONS ARE NOW BILLED AT THE EMPOWER CHARTER SCHOOL, INCLUDING A NEW FULL-TIME PSYCHOLOGIST.

AND AMY BROWN HIRED WITH MORE STATE FUNDING HELP.

>> IT IS ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS SO THEY CAN SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

>> CLASSES HERE START AUGUST 29th AND THE STAFF WILL BE READY.

MG PEREZ KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE HOMELESS SITUATION IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION AND I WAS THE HELP ARRIVE IN OTHER SPORTS LIKE EAST COUNTY.

HE VISITED THE AREA'S FIRST OVERNIGHT SAFE PARKING SITE TO SEE THE HELP PEOPLE ARE NOW GETTING.

>> Reporter: UNDER THE 67 FREEWAY OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF EL CAJON, A NEW SAFE PARKING PROGRAM IS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHING FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR CARS AND LOOKING TO FIND PERMANENT HOUSING.

BACK IN APRIL THE NORTHMAN YOUR SITE WAS A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN TENTS.

NOW IT IS AN OVERNIGHT SPACE TO SLEEP FOR THOSE IN CARS AND ACCORDING TO THERESA SMITH FOR DREAMS TO CHANGE HER ORGANIZATION WAS CONTACTED TO RUN THE PROGRAM.

>> WE WILL BE HAVING 17 HOUSEHOLDS, AND THEY WILL BE CARS AND NO RVS.

>> COUNTY SUPERVISOR JOEL ANDERSON SAID THE SAFE PARKING LOT MARKS THE FIRST KIND OF RATED EMERGENCY SHELTER IN THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO.

>> THIS IS A PARKING LOT IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARD SOLVING THE HOMELESS ISSUE.

THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH TWO HOT MEALS A DAY, RESTROOMS, HYGIENE FACILITIES, 20 FOR-SEVEN SECURITY AND A MEMBERSHIP TO THE LOCAL YMCA.

>> IS A PARKING LOT AS A FINALE FROM 5:30 P.M. UNTIL SEVEN A CLOCK A.M.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING.

IT IS NOT A WALK-UP SITE.

PARTICIPANTS ARE REFERRED TO THE COUNTIES WORKERS.

>> FAMILIES WILL BE TOP PRIORITY.

THEY WANT TO GET THE KIDS OFF THE STREETS AND GET THEM IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

AS FAR AS WHAT WE MEAN BY LOW BARRIERS, WE ARE LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO JUST WANT TO MOVE TOWARD PERMANENT HOUSING.

>> THE LOCATION CAN ACCOMMODATE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH RUNNING VEHICLES, SMITH SAID THAT SITE WILL OPERATE WITH A WAITLIST.

AND SHE SAID THE GUYS LOOKING AT OTHER UNINCORPORATED AREAS FOR LARGER SAFE PARKING LOTS.

JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> DOGS, THEY ARE CONSIDERED MAN'S AND WOMAN'S BEST FRIEND.

AND THE BEAGLE BREED IS ESPECIALLY SWEET SPIRITED AND QUICK TO FORGIVE.

THIS TWO-PART SPECIAL REPORT, I TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THOSE TRAITS HAVE MADE THEM MORE LIKELY TO BE USED IN MEDICAL TRIALS, AND HOW THAT RESEARCH TRANSLATES TO HUMANS.

>> Reporter: A GREETING AMONG THE TWO DOGS, THEIR EAGER TAILS WHACK BACK AND FORTH LIKE A METRONOME KEEPING TIME.

THE UNQUESTIONABLE SIGN OF HAPPINESS.

THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THESE TWO BEAGLES HAVE MET.

IN FACT IT IS A REUNION.

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THEM OR WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM, WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE DOING THIS.

THEY WERE RESCUED IN 2020 AFTER SPENDING SEVEN YEARS BEING TESTED ON IN THE SAN DIEGO RESEARCH LAB, AND ONCE KNOWN ONLY BY A SERIES OF NUMBERS, THEIR NEW FAMILIES NAMED THEM MAURITZ AND LEO.

MIKE AND SARAH SAID THE BEATLES FORGIVING SPIRIT IS THEIR CURSE.

>> THEY GENERALLY LIKE TO BE HANDLED SO IT IS WEAPON I AGAINST THEM AS THEY WILL CAUSE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS FOR THE PEOPLE DOING THE TESTING.

>> HE HAS HIS LAB NUMBER TATTOOED ON THE INSIDE OF HIS EAR.

>> THIS DOG HAS BEEN TESTED ON FOR SEVEN YEARS IS LETTING ME HOLD HIM, AS A STRANGER, LETTING ME TOUCH HIS HEAD, COMPLETELY TRUSTING.

>> WHILE MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT SURPRISE ANIMALS ARE USED IN RESEARCH, WHAT MOST DO NOT KNOW HIS NATIONWIDE NEARLY 60,000 BEAGLES PER YEAR ARE BRED AND USED SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE.

RECENTLY ADVOCATES AND OTHERS HAVE SHINED THE SPOTLIGHT ON SAN DIEGO-BASED PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, CRYING ADDICTS, THEY CONTRACT WITH TENTATIVE, 11 INDIANA PERFORMING TOXICOLOGY STUDIES ON BEAGLES.

>> THE DOCILE NATURES OF BEAGLES IS WHAT MAKES THEM VICTIMS.

>> SHE WORKS FOR THE NATIONAL HUMANE SOCIETY, AND SAYS THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED A SEVEN MONTH INVESTIGATION AND PRODUCED UNDERCOVER VIDEO.

SHE TALKS ABOUT A PARTICULARLY WRENCHING PART OF THE VIDEO INVOLVING A DOG NAMED RILEY.

>> A LOCAL VETERINARIAN WAS CALLED TO COME IN BECAUSE OF HOW BAD OF A CONDITION THAT HE WAS IN, THE VETERINARIAN WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT BECAUSE OF PERSONAL REASONS.

THE ANIMAL SUFFERED OVERNIGHT.

YOU KNOW I'VE WORKED ON THIS ISSUE A LONG TIME AND I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF DISTURBING VIDEOS.

BUT JUST HEARING THAT ANIMAL GROANING LIKE THAT I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING SO AWFUL.

>> THE COMPANY RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING IT COMPLIES WITH ALL REGULATIONS IS INDIANA AND MARYLAND FACILITIES, ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE ACCREDITATION AND ASSESSMENT OF LABORATORY ANIMAL CARE, BUT NONETHELESS, PROTESTERS BACK WITH A PETITION OF MORE THAN 250,000 SIGNATURES ARE CALLING FOR THE BEAGLES TO BE RELEASED FOR ADOPTION.

>> THEY LOCKED THE DOORS.

>> AND OTHER STATES ADOPTING DOGS FROM LAB STUDIES IS BECOMING LAW AND IN 2019 32 BEAGLES WERE RESCUED FROM A LAB IN MICHIGAN.

ONE OF THOSE BEAGLES INSPIRED AN ADOPTION BILL IN THAT STATE NAMED TEDDY, INSPIRED THE BILL CALLED TEDDY'S LAW.

AND PASSED LAWS IN RECENT YEARS REQUIRING DR. OFFERING FOR ADOPTION ONCE RESEARCH WAS COMPLETED.

AND IN MAY A BIPARTISAN COALITION OF LAWMAKERS FROM 32 STATES SIGNED A LETTER ASKING FOR THE PUPPIES TO BE RELEASED INSTEAD OF EUTHANIZED.

OFFICIALS AT THE COMPANY WOULD NOT AGREE TO AN INTERVIEW SAYING THAT A NUMBER OF THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED PERSONAL THREATS IN A STATEMENT THE COMPANY SAID IT IS CONDUCTING CLINICAL TRIALS ON POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING TREATMENTS FOR BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN AND IT HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO USE AUTOPSY TISSUE SAMPLES FROM ANIMAL TRIALS.

ASSESSMENT OF FDA CHANGES ITS REQUIREMENTS, THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVES.

THE FDA WOULD NOT COMMENT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE STUDY, BUT SAID EUTHANASIA ISN'T REQUIRED AFTER STUDY COMPLETION UNLESS NECESSARY TO EXAMINE TISSUE.

WHILE THE ATTENTION THESE LABS ARE GETTING IS UNUSUAL, ANIMAL TESTING LABS ARE NOT IN FACT, THE USDA WEBSITE HAS A SEARCH TOOL THAT SHOWS WHICH SPECIES ARE USED BY WHICH LAB AT HOW MANY OF THE ANIMALS WERE IN STUDIES INVOLVING PAIN, DISTRESS OR PAIN RELIEVING DRUGS.

KPBS OBSERVED THE EXTERIOR OF THREE OF THESE LOCAL LABS THAT REPORTED USING DOGS.

THE BUILDINGS ARE MOSTLY OBSCURE.

AT ONE OF THE SITES, A LAB TECHNICIAN TAKING HIS MORNING BREAK WAS WILLING TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE TESTING HE HAS DONE.

>> PIGS AND DOGS AND ALL KINDS OF SPECIES.

>> BRIAN MARTIN HAS WORKED AT HIS LAB FOR FIVE YEARS AND HE SAYS THE ANIMALS HERE ARE WELL CARED FOR.

HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT FROM WHAT HE HAS SEEN IT IS NOT TRUE FOR ALL LABS.

>> IF I'M DOING IT, I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING AND THE ANIMAL WILL BE OKAY.

IF SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING IT, THEY MAY NOT HAVE AS MUCH CARE FOR THE ANIMALS AS WE DO.

>> I ASKED HIM WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO TEST ON COMPANION ANIMALS LIKE DOGS.

>> IT IS TOUGH, BUT WE DO NOT EUTHANIZE THE DOGS WHEN WE ARE DONE, WE WASH THEM OUT AND WE REUSE THEM.

SPIRIT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WE WILL GIVE THEM A DRUG, AND WE WILL TAKE BLOOD TIME POINTS LET'S SAY, FOR THREE OR FOR DAYS, AND THEN WE WILL LET THEM SIT FOR TWO WEEKS BACK IN THEIR PEN AND WE WILL REUSE THEM AGAIN ON THE STUDY.

SOME OF THE DOGS WE HAVE HAD, WE HAVE HAD FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS.

SPIRIT AFTER THE DOGS HAVE SPENT HALF OF THEIR LIFESPAN IN THE LABS HE SAYS THEY ARE ADOPTED TO HOMES, SOMETIMES BY THEIR OWN CLIENTS.

MEANWHILE, AS THE FATE OF THE BEAGLE IN INDIANA HANG IN THE BALANCE, 4000 BEAGLES ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REHOMED.

AFTER A FACILITY IN VIRGINIA OWNED BY A SUBSIDIARY AGREED AS PART OF A SETTLEMENT TO RELINQUISH THEM AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF MULTIPLE WHERE FAIR WELFARE VIOLATIONS, SOME OF THIS ALSO BEEN BROUGHT TO SAN DIEGO FOR ADOPTION IN PART TWO OF THE STORY WE WILL LOOK INTO THE CURRENT STATE OF SCIENCE AND THE REGULATION WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMAL TESTING.

AND HOW THAT RESEARCH TRANSLATES TO HUMANS.

THROUGHOUT HISTORY ANIMALS HAVE BEEN USED IN RESEARCH, PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN THE WAY WE FIND A SAFE TREATMENT TO EASE HUMAN SUFFERING AND PROLONG OUR LIVES.

>> WE ARE NOT RATS, QUITE CLEAR, BUT THE ARE BIOLOGICAL PARALLELS BETWEEN SPECIES.

>> I AM A PROFESSOR IN ANESTHESIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO.

>> IS OF THE COVID VACCINES ARE PERFECT EXAMPLES ABOUT ANIMAL TRIALS PAVED THE WAY FOR AN URGENTLY NEEDED MEDICATION.

>> THE FIRST INJECTION IN THE ARM LIKE LET'S JUST TRY THE FIRST PERSON WANTS TO VOLUNTEER.

A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK HAD BEEN DONE WITH ANIMAL MODELS TO IN FACT TO SHOW THERE WERE NO ADVERSE EVENTS.

>> ARE ANIMALS ONLY OPTION IN THE YEAR 2022?

A GROWING NUMBER OF EXPERTS ARE SAYING NO, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO COMPANION ANIMALS LIKE DOGS.

IN A STATEMENT TO KPBS, THE FDA SAID IT IS IMPORTANT TO SELECT AN APPROPRIATE MODEL FOR PARTICULAR EXPLORATION.

SOMETIMES THE BEST MODEL FOR A STUDY IS A DOG.

AND IN SAN DIEGO THE ISSUE IS TAKEN ON A GREATER URGENCY.

A SAN DIEGO-BASED PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY IS CURRENTLY USING OUT OF THE STATE LAB TO TEST ITS NEW DRUG ON BEAGLES.

HUMANE SOCIETY RELEASED UNDERCOVER VIDEO OF THIS TESTING, THINK THAT IT BELIEVES 32 OF THE DOGS HAVE BEEN EUTHANIZED AND ASKING FOR THE REST TO BE RELEASED FOR ADOPTION AT THE END OF THE STUDY THIS YEAR.

BOTH LABS ISSUED STATEMENTS TO KPBS SAYING THEY ARE ACTING LAWFULLY AND ETHICALLY, AND THEY FOLLOW STRICT GUIDELINES AND REQUIRE CONTRACTORS TO DO THE SAME GRADE >> FOR THOSE DOGS THAT ARE STILL SAFE AND ALIVE AND HEALTHY, THERE IS NO REGULATION THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM BEING ADOPTED OUT.

>> THIS DR. IS A NEUROLOGIST IN PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALISTS THAT WERE TO THE FDA FOR 10 YEARS.

>> BY IGNORING THE SUFFERING OF ANIMALS WE CREATE CONDITIONS THAT IGNORES OUR OWN SUFFERING.

>> SHE SAYS ANIMAL TESTING IS TOO UNRELIABLE AND OUTDATED TO REALLY GIVE US ANSWERS.

>> DESPITE THE FACT THE FDA WILL REQUIRE ALL NEW DRUGS AND VACCINES TO BE TESTED ON TWO DIFFERENT SPECIES BEFORE MOVING IN HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS,, 90 TO 95% OF ALL THE DRUGS AND VACCINES THAT PASS ALL THOSE ANIMAL TESTS, THAT ARE FOUND SAFE AND EFFECTIVE IN THOSE ANIMALS, AND UP NOT WORKING ARE UNSAFE WAS THERE TRIED IN HUMANS.

SPIRIT THING 95% IS MISLEADING.

>> DR. GARNER IS A PROFESSOR OF COMPARATIVE MEDICINE AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY, AND HE SAYS ISSUE IS MORE NUANCED.

>> THE VAST MAJORITY OF DRUGS ENTERING HUMAN TRIALS OF FAILED BUT OTHER REASONS.

I DEEPLY BELIEVE WE CAN IMPROVE THE TRANSLATION OF ANIMAL RESULTED TO HUMANS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO IN ANIMALS, BUT WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER.

>> CONGRESS IS POISED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE FDA TO ALLOW FOR MORE NON-ANIMAL OPTIONS.

THE FDA MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2021 EMS TO ALLOW FOR MORE ALTERNATIVE METHODS LIKE CELL- BASED ASSAYS, ORGAN CHIPS AND COMPUTER MODELS.

>> IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY ANIMAL TESTING BUT IT ALLOWS DRUG DEVELOPERS TO START USING MORE MODERN, HUMAN RELEVANT TESTING METHODS IN PLACE OF ANIMAL TESTS.

>> WE CAN DO BETTER THAN WHEN IT COMES TO PRECLINICAL TEST METHODS AND APPLY 21st CENTURY STRATEGIES THAT RELY ON HUMAN BIOLOGY, NOT SO MUCH ON BEAGLES.

>> AND PASS THE HOUSE IN JUNE AND IS NOW BEFORE THE SENATE.

NOW BACK AT UCSD, THE DOCTOR SAYS THAT THERE'S A WAY TO REPLACE ANIMAL TESTING, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES WOULD BE INCLINED TO DO IT, ESPECIALLY A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT.

>> RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS AND PEOPLE IN DRUG DEVELOPMENT ARE NOT STUPID.

IF YOU CAN SHOW A BETTER WAY TO DEVELOP A DRUG IN A MOLECULE TO TREAT THAT PATIENT, THAT SMA PATIENT, THAT HUNTINGTON'S PATIENT OR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENT, IF YOU CAN SHOW A BETTER WAY TO DO IT.

BRING IT ON.

BECAUSE I PROMISE YOU PEOPLE WILL BE BEATING YOUR DOOR DOWN.

SPEARE I ASKED THE DOCTOR TO REVIEW THE UNDERCOVER FOOTAGE TAKEN BY THE HUMANE SOCIETY BUT THOUGH THE VIDEO WAS EDITED DOWN AND IT CANNOT BE WATCHED IN ITS ENTIRETY, HE SAID FROM WHAT HE COULD SEE IT LOOKED LIKE STANDARD PRACTICE.

>> THE ORAL INTUBATION LOOKS FINE TO ME AND TO BE HONEST THE TECHNICIANS WERE SYMPATHETIC AND CARING OF THE ANIMALS I THOUGHT.

>> I ASKED DR. LAWRENCE HANSEN TO REVIEW THE SAME FOOTAGE.

SPEARE THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS FOR THESE ANIMALS AND THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THIS BUT I'M A BOARD-CERTIFIED NEURO- PATHOLOGIST AND CLINICAL PATHOLOGIST.

I NEED TO MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR I AM NOT SPEAKING FOR THE UCSD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, JUST FOR ME.

>> HANSEN IS A MEMBER OF SEVERAL ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS SPEAKS FROM AN ETHICAL VIEWPOINT.

HE PROTESTED AGAINST THE USE OF DOCK TESTING OF UNIVERSITY ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO.

>> IT SEEMS SEEMS PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS TO USED DOGS FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH AND VIVISECTION ANIMAL RESEARCH.

BECAUSE DOGS AND HUMANS HAVE A HISTORY THAT GO BACK 15,000 YEARS BUT WE PRODUCED AN ANIMAL THAT IS HARDWIRED TO LOVE US, AND BEAGLES ARE PARTICULARLY EASY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

>> DID YOU AND YOUR TIME AS A STUDENT TEST ON ANIMALS?

SPEARE I DID NOT TEST ON THEM.

I DID SOMETHING WORSE.

I KILLED TWO DOGS.

I KILLED ONE DOG TO PHYSIOLOGY LAB WHEN I WAS IN MEDICAL SCHOOL, AND I TORTURED SLOWLY TO DEATH ANOTHER DOG WHEN I WAS IN A SURGERY CLERKSHIP WHERE THEY WANTED US TO PRACTICE SURGICAL TECHNIQUES ON DOGS.

IT IS A KARMIC DEATH I CANNOT PAY BACK.

>> AS FOR THE DOGS THAT MAKE IT OUT OF LABS AND INTO FAMILIES, WHAT IS CLEAR IS THEIR CAPACITY TO FORGIVE, FOR WHATEVER THEY MAY HAVE ENDURED, IN THE NAME OF HELPING HUMANS.

>> YOU HAVE SAVED THEM.

>> THAT SPECIAL REPORT AND ALL OF OUR CONTENT CAN BE FOUND ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE, ALSO LIVESTREAM KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00.

>>> SAN DIEGO IS NOW A NATIONAL LEADER AND HOW IT CARES FOR SENIORS CRISIS AT LOCAL HOSPITALS.

JACOB AERE EXCITES WHY THIS DESIGNATION IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> Reporter: AND FIRST IN THE NATION COME ALL ELIGIBLE HOSPITALS IN SAN DIEGO HAVE OFFICIALLY EARNED GERIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, OR GED, CERTIFICATION THEY SPECIFICALLY CATER TO SENIORS WITH DEMENTIA, COGNITIVE DECLINE, AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONS, TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

UC SAN DIEGO JACOBS EMERGENCY CENTER IS ONE OF THE SITES, AND SUSAN NELSON WAS A PATIENT.

>> THIS IS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN THE REGULAR E.R.. >> THIS IS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN THE REGULAR E.R.

IT HAD A SMALLER VENUE, THERE WERE LIKE 18 BEDS, VERY COMFY AND SOUNDPROOF WALLS.

THE FLOORS WERE NONSKID.

>> RIGHT NOW 13% OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65.

THAT NUMBER IS PREDICTED TO RISE TO ABOUT 21% BY THE END OF THIS DECADE.

OVER THE SAME TIME, THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ESTIMATES OLDER PEOPLE WILL OUTNUMBER CHILDREN NATIONWIDE ARE THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY.

>> FOR ALL OF US WITH AGING PARENTS WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.

IT HITS CLOSE TO THE HEART FOR ALL OF US THAT WE COULD CREATE A SITUATION WHERE OUR FAMILY, OUR MOTHERS AND FATHERS COULD COME AND GET THE KIND OF CARE THEY COULD GET IN OUR GERIATRIC 80s.

>> DAVID FLOREZ IS A GERIATRIC NURSE AT JACOBS MEDICAL CENTER, THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN THE REGION TO INTRODUCE THE GERIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, BACK IN 2019.

HE WILL SOON BE A SENIOR HIMSELF AND HE SEES THE PROGRAM IS A HUGE BOOST TO THE REGION.

>> THINK THERE IS A NEED.

WE BABY BOOMERS ARE GROWING AND LIVING LONGER, AND WE WANT TO KEEP DOING THAT.

AND HEALTHIER.

I THINK IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM.

>> ACCORDING TO COUNTY OFFICIALS, THE GED'S HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO REACH OVER 275,000 SENIORS, WHO ACCOUNT FOR ROUGHLY ONE THIRD OF ALL ED VISITS IN SAN DIEGO.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS HOME TO 18 ACCREDITED GED'S ACROSS THE REGION.

JACOB AERE KPBS NEWS.

>> WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK, I'M MAYA TRABULSI , THANKS FOR JOINING US.