RICHMOND, VA -- The Coast Guard is defending the practice of using goats and other live animals as subjects for combat medical training. It comes after animal rights activists released a video of a goat's legs being removed with tree trimmers during what it said was training for Coast Guard personnel.
A Coast Guard spokesman confirmed it has used live goats in training for dealing with combat injuries but couldn't verify if the training in the video involved its personnel.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released the tape Wednesday and called on the Pentagon to stop the practice.
The animal rights group said the undercover showed military instructors contracted by the Coast Guard cutting off an anesthetized goat's legs as part of a training exercise.
AP