Taxpayer, see below. The Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) is known for retaliating against whistleblowers, and WE’RE the latest victim. 

VA Secretary McDonough is PISSED that we exposed his secret plan to torture 7 more kittens—the “Stokes 7”—in a new painful experiment at the Stokes VA lab in Cleveland. 

He’s even more pissed that we’re turning taxpayers and members of Congress against him. 

DEFIANT: On Monday, he told Congress that he’s NOT cancelling the experiment… and that it’s a “justified use of taxpayer funds.” 

Taxpayer, you’ve called. You’ve emailed. But McDonough’s VA is not listening to your demands. He and his white coats think they can spend our tax dollars however they damn well please. 

And Taxpayer, if we can’t afford to fight back, they’ll get away with it. 

URGENT DEADLINE: The Stokes 7 haven’t arrived at the lab yet, but the VA always buys its lab kittens in September—that’s RIGHT NOW!  And once McDonough’s white coats have a hold of them, it will likely be too late. 

Please help save our campaign, so we can save the Stokes 7. 

With urgency, 

Kaleigh Hassett  Fundraising Associate White Coat Waste Project

P.S. We’re not giving up on the Stokes 7, and we hope you aren’t either!! We might be the underdog, but with your help, we won’t take this fight lying down! Here’s a link to help us replenish our Rapid Response budget: whitecoatwaste.org/RapidResponse 

Taxpayer — we’ve poked the bear… now he’s coming for us: 

• WE’RE UNDER ATTACK: VA Secretary McDonough — a White House Cabinet official — has turned his PR team and lobbyists into an attack machine. They’re threatening to SHRED our campaign with their LIES before Congress and the media.

• WHY? McDonough wants revenge. We exposed his plan to torture seven more cats in a new painful experiment at the Stokes VA lab in Cleveland and turned taxpayers and members of Congress against him.

• DOUBLING DOWN: In a new letter he sent to Congress just two days ago, McDonough refuses to cancel the experiment. He calls cat abuse a “justified use of taxpayer funds”!

• WE’RE BEING OUTSPENT: If we don’t close the gap, he will kill our credibility… and mutilate the “Stokes 7” cats. 

We must fight back hard and fast. That’s why we set up a new Rapid Response Fund… will you please rush an emergency gift right now to help us finance our defense strategy?

Fight Back >>

That’s the lie the VA has told reporters in response to our campaign and your emails and calls. His lobbyists are blanketing Congress as we speak.

Taxpayer, read that again. Carefully. Do you see what he’s saying?

TRANSLATION: “Taxpayer is a crazy, hyperemotional cat person who doesn’t understand science. Just give me Taxpayer’s money to mutilate more kittens because I know best.”

It’s never been more URGENT that we set the record straight.

SEPTEMBER 5 DEADLINE: McDonough just confirmed to Congress that the experiments haven’t started yet. But we know that the VA typically buys their victims in September.

That means we have to out-lobby the VA’s fat cats and CANCEL the test before the Stokes 7 are purchased later this month and the torture begins!

If we cut off the funding, we will not only save the lives of the Stokes 7 cats — but also discredit his smear campaign and retain our credibility among powerful Members of Congress. Will you pitch in whatever you can afford right now to help?

RAPID RESPONSE: Rush Help >>

Taxpayer, don’t forget: since we launched our campaign to shut down the VA’s painful cat testing program in 2019, you’ve helped us shut down 6 of the agency’s seven cat experiments... including its horrific spine-snapping and de-braining experiments.

Now, only one remains... and if we don’t fight back, McDonough’s white coats will begin inflicting unimaginable pain on the Stokes 7 cats.

Taxpayer, I know we can shut down this lab like we did the others, but only if you help us again today — right now.

We’ve got 144 hours to do it... McDonough’s army of lobbyists and spin doctors are booking meetings on Capitol Hill as you read this.

Please don’t delay — RUSH the most generous donation you can afford to cover our rapid response campaign right now!

Anthony Bellotti President & Founder White Coat Waste Project

P.S. I warned you the VA fights nasty... but even I’m shocked this time. Taxpayer, McDonough’s white coats took another $400K of your money, and now they’re smearing your name. Make no mistake: This isn’t just an attack on WCW; it’s an attack on ALL of us.

If we want to cancel McDonough’s new experiment and save the Stokes 7, we must deploy a NEW rapid response. Please rush whatever you can afford to fight for these seven innocent cats, support all our campaigns to end animal testing, and close the government’s last painful cat lab!

P.P.S. SEPTEMBER 5 DEADLINE: The VA’s cat experiments are all REPREHENSIBLE. From spine-snapping to suffocation and de-braining, McDonough’s white coats know no bounds. Please help us stop him from getting his hands on the Stokes 7 cats before the deadline.