The COMPACT Act: A Step Toward Ending Dog and Cat Experimentation
Dogs and cats are family, not research tools.
For decades, dogs and cats have been used in laboratories across the United States, often in painful and invasive experiments. But science is advancing, and so is the movement to replace animal experimentation with modern, human-relevant research methods.
The Companion Animal Protection Against Cruel Testing (COMPACT) Act (H.R. 10522) is an important step toward that future.
Introduced in September 2026 by Representatives Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and Mark Pocan (D-WI), this bipartisan legislation aims to end federally funded biomedical experimentation on dogs and cats through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What Would the COMPACT Act Do?
If passed, the COMPACT Act would:
End HHS-funded dog and cat experimentation. Prohibit the use of HHS funds for biomedical research involving live dogs and cats, with limited exceptions.
Give animals a chance at freedom. Establish provisions for the humane retirement and rehoming of dogs and cats currently used in covered research.
Increase transparency and accountability. Require reporting, recordkeeping, oversight, and enforcement to help ensure compliance.
Encourage the transition to modern science. Help research institutions move away from animal experimentation and toward non-animal research methods.
The legislation focuses on biomedical research involving dogs and cats. It does not prohibit routine veterinary care or qualifying clinical research involving privately owned pets with naturally occurring diseases.
Why Does This Matter?
Here in Dane County, Wisconsin, we've seen firsthand the suffering behind the laboratory animal industry.
After years of advocacy, Ridglan Farms, one of the nation's largest breeders of dogs for research, closed in 2026. Thousands of beagles were given the opportunity to experience life outside a breeding facility.
But closing Ridglan was never the end of our mission.
Dogs and cats continue to be used in laboratories across the country, and taxpayer dollars continue to support animal experimentation.
Meanwhile, modern research approaches, including human cell-based models, organoids, organ-on-chip technologies, and computational methods, are creating opportunities to study human biology without relying on animal suffering.
We believe the future of science should be both innovative and compassionate.
The COMPACT Act is an important step in that direction.
How You Can Help
The COMPACT Act has been introduced in Congress, but it needs additional support to move forward.
We need you to contact your U.S. Representative and ask them to cosponsor and support H.R. 10522.
It's easy:
Find your representative. Visit Find Your U.S. Representative and enter your ZIP code.
Contact their office. Call or use the contact form on their official website.
Make it personal. Explain why ending dog and cat experimentation matters to you. Maybe you've adopted a former research animal, believe in modern scientific alternatives, or simply don't want your tax dollars supporting animal suffering.
Please be kind, respectful, and remember that your voice matters!
Not Sure What to Say?
Here's a simple example:
"Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I'm a constituent from [Your City]. I'm contacting you to ask Representative [Name] to cosponsor and support the COMPACT Act, H.R. 10522. I believe we should be moving away from experiments on dogs and cats and investing in modern, human-relevant research methods. This issue is important to me, and I hope the Representative will support this legislation. Thank you for your time."
Our Work Isn't Finished
The closure of Ridglan Farms showed us what is possible when people come together for animals.
Now we have an opportunity to help create change at the federal level.
Dane4Dogs remains committed to ending dog and cat experimentation in Wisconsin and beyond, while advocating for a future in which animals are no longer used as research tools.
Help us turn the progress we made in Wisconsin into meaningful change across the country.
From cages to couches. Until every cage is empty.
Learn more: Read the COMPACT Act, H.R. 10522
Take action: Find and Contact Your U.S. Representative