Dalhousie’s 232 kilogram shipment of cat food that had the nation talking on Monday is being used for research, says a Dalhousie spokesperson.
After the Gazette reported Sunday on the discovery of a 232 kilogram shipment of cat food intended for Dalhousie University, the response was intense.
This is the best thing on the internet today http://t.co/WcsXiT2euh
— Lauren Strapagiel (@laurenstrapa) August 17, 2015
my alma mater bought a shitton of cat food and the @DalGazette is #ONIT. http://t.co/fgaG7IIs7i #curious #journalism #cats
— Katie Toth (@kat_toth) August 17, 2015
This is the most important story in the history of journalism https://t.co/ZjTiLgqPGU
— Expired Mustard (@WindingDot) August 17, 2015
Why does Dalhousie University need 372 cans of cat food? http://t.co/eHu5RqIZIg Canada’s counting on you, @DalGazette pic.twitter.com/gABCYagq4x — Anna Mehler Paperny (@amp6) August 17, 2015
 Dalhousie president Richard Florizone was not sure of the cat food’s destination.
Beautiful summer morning at #DalhousieU pic.twitter.com/ffF7ac4S6i — Richard Florizone (@DalPres) August 17, 2015
@DalPres beautiful & filled with cat food! http://t.co/z1jSVQ1hhy — Tami Taylor (@haliqueer) August 17, 2015
@haliqueer Hmmm….curious
— Richard Florizone (@DalPres) August 17, 2015
It seemed confirmed the cat food had arrived at Dalhousie around noon, when a Twitter user by the handle of @macduffvirgo911 claimed to have seen the cat food at its point of delivery.
@DalGazette the final undisclosed destination. pic.twitter.com/3Ctzo3efnE
— Macduff (@macduffvirgo911) August 17, 2015
The Gazette spoke with managers of the receiving departments of Dalhousie’s faculties of Psychology and Biology and the Tupper Medicine Building, where animal research is routinely performed.
All staff members the Gazette spoke with said they did not have any knowledge of research involving cats or cat food occurring at Dalhousie, and had not seen any cat food coming through their departments Monday.
However, a response to a request for comment came through Dalhousie’s communications department in the afternoon.
“The cat food is used to feed cats that are being used for behavioural research at the University,” said Dalhousie spokesperson Janet Bryson in an email.
After the Gazette shared this news over Twitter, responses were varied.
Go on about your day. https://t.co/WlgDJw3KAo
— Jacob Boon (@RWJBoon) August 17, 2015
@DalGazette what kind of behavioral? what dept? and why aren’t they giving these poor cats some higher quality tuna?
— Katie Toth (@kat_toth) August 17, 2015
@DalGazette I will not be satisfied until you obtain photos of these alleged cats.
— Lauren Strapagiel (@laurenstrapa) August 17, 2015
“I can tell you that the cats are used humanely in research into Amblyopia. Amblyopia is the most common serious eye condition in children in North America and has consequences on learning, socialization and other important aspects of human sensory development and cognition,” said Bryson in another email.
While the Gazette intends on learning and reporting more about Dalhousie’s research involving cats, we may now rest easy with a confirmation of what Dalhousie plans on doing with 372 cans of two flavours of cat food.
In the coming days the Gazette will also be covering other topics like student representation in the platforms of politicians running campaigns for the upcoming federal election, the effects of Bill 100 on tuition and student life at Dalhousie and the changes we should look out for as Dalhousie accepts all recommendations made in July’s external dentistry task force report.
I love how the prime minister is in Atlantic Canada, and all I want to talk about is the Dalhousie Cat Food Scandal @DalGazette
— Graeme Benjamin (@graeme_benjamin) August 17, 2015
.@graeme_benjamin We’ll have full-time coverage on student issues in this federal election as soon as we figure the cat food thing out. — Dalhousie Gazette (@DalGazette) August 17, 2015
Recent Comments