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Everett council narrows animal-testing ban, approves ordinance allowing limited testing on small species
Summary
After extended debate and public comment, the Everett City Council voted 6-4 to pass an amended ordinance that removes a blanket ban on live animal testing but bars testing on dogs, cats, horses, goats and other large vertebrates, allowing only small vertebrates such as rats, mice and fish under the city rule.
The Everett City Council on Jan. 13 approved an amended ordinance changing the city's 2022 ban on live animal testing, allowing limited testing on small vertebrates while explicitly prohibiting experiments on dogs, cats, horses, goats and other large vertebrate species.
The ordinance was passed as amended after a motion to change the language was approved and the final ordinance passed on a roll-call vote of 6 yeas and 4 nays. Councilor Stephanie Smith sponsored the amendment that singled out large vertebrates for explicit prohibition while leaving small vertebrates (rats, mice and fish) within the scope of permitted laboratory activity under the revised city rule.
The vote followed more than 20 minutes of council debate and a public comment period in which residents urged the council either to maintain the 2022 blanket ban or to allow life-science jobs that may rely on some forms of animal testing. Speakers during public comment who addressed the item included Leanne Palastroni, Stephanie Hanlon and Patty Rogers, each urging the council to uphold the earlier ban or to prioritize alternatives to animal testing.
Councilor Smith, the ordinance sponsor, said she drafted the revised language and asserted it was intended to expand economic opportunity for Everett by permitting some life-science activity while restricting testing on animals that residents find most objectionable. "This is what I do for work, so it looks nice and pretty," Smith said while describing the economic data she cited during the discussion, and she read a proposed amendment naming specific animals that could not be used.
Councilor Katie Rogers argued against any rollback of the earlier ban, saying the original 2022 ordinance reflected residents' values and that overturning it would serve corporate interests without guaranteed local benefits. "There are no guarantees of job creation specifically for Everett residents," Rogers said, urging the council to uphold the city's cruelty-free policy.
Council President Stephanie Martins and other members emphasized that the city previously adopted the 2022 ban at residents' request and noted alternatives to animal testing, including in vitro tests and organ-on-chip technologies. Several councilors said they supported life sciences in principle but differed over whether permitting limited animal testing would be acceptable.
The final amended ordinance calls out prohibited species and limits permissible testing to small vertebrates. The council recorded six votes in favor and four opposed; the ordinance will be "enrolled" and return for formal ordainment consistent with council procedure.
Supporters and opponents each urged the city to pair any change in policy with protections or commitments for schools, public safety and job training so local residents would benefit if life-science uses expand in Everett.
The council's action ends with a formal enrollment of the ordinance; proponents and opponents signaled they will continue oversight and may request implementation terms or monitoring mechanisms if laboratory uses begin in the city.
