The stress from shipping and confinement add to the distress the animals endure. The dogs will just be killed anyway at the local pound. The less fortunate would be quickly euthanized, not confined, shipped, experimented on, and ultimately killed. Additionally, dog labs undermine animal control efforts. Many people abandon unwanted dogs to the elements rather than bringing them to shelters where the dogs might be sent off to medical school labs.
Students enjoy dog labs.
But observing real human heart bypass surgery is far more appealing than witnessing a German shepherd or beagle needlessly killed. Medical schools that continue to subject animals and students to live-animal labs, remain stuck in a rut. The campus community's voice must be heard plainly as well. They'll understand, having seen what goes on in the O.R., what it takes in medicine to truly help people and to attain an outcome that will save a life or improve the quality of life.