BASSETERRE, St Kitts: The Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St Kitts has reportedly cancelled all invasive and terminal dog surgeries, which have been performed at the school for many years.

In recent days, members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have been protesting in St Kitts and the United States over alleged surgical mutilation and killing of animals in laboratories at the Ross University School.

In a news release on Friday, PETA said, "This is an important first step, and we congratulate Ross on this decision -- it is welcome news to the many students who appealed to PETA for help. We are thrilled that the administration is reportedly ending needless surgeries on healthy dogs, which included cutting into dogs’ intestines and inserting tubes into their bodies, after which the dogs are killed and further mutilated."

PETA said it will, nevertheless, continue to encourage people not to visit St Kitts until all harmful and terminal surgeries -- including those still being performed on sheep this week and on donkeys the week after next -- are ended for good in favour of the humane and effective available alternatives that PETA has recommended.