SPCA treats animals rescued from closed lab

The Wake County SPCA took in 35 dogs and cats after three dozen rescue groups from across the East Coast coordinated a 14-hour effort Friday to remove more than 200 animals from the Professional Laboratory and Research Services Inc. facility in Corapeake.

The animals are getting medical treatment and, importantly, starting to learn to be companions to humans, SPCA spokeswoman Mondy Lamb said.

"It's all about the process of teaching them that the world is not a scary place, that people aren't going to poke and prod them, that people are going to give them treats," Lamb said.

The SPCA will eventually try to find homes for the rescued dogs and cats.

The PLRS lab is under investigation by the Gates County District Attorney's Office and the federal Department of Agriculture.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released undercover video it said was taken by a volunteer who got a job at the lab. PETA says the video shows cats, dogs and rabbits living in their own excrement and workers spraying animals with harsh chemicals, trying to rip off a cat's claws and performing operations with expired sedative.

When PETA released the video, PLRS President Helen Sonenshine confirmed that the video was taken at the Gates County lab and said that it disgusted and appalled her and that anyone who broke company rules will be fired. The company has not commented since.