USDA Investigating Animal Abuse Claims - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

SANTA CRUZ, Calif--

Central Coast News was provided a copy of the USDA's inspection report done at Santa Cruz Biotechnologies Inc.  The group Stop Animal Exploitation Now says some of the animals were in "appalling" conditions and they want the organization to pay.

The group released pictures of those animals on Monday.  They claim it's proof of animal abuse and say there's a history of abuse at the organization.

"One animal had developed an external tumor the size of a baseball and the facility's own veterinarian asked to euthanize this animal but was denied the ability to do so for over a month," says Michael Budkie, Executive Director of Stop Animal Exploitation Now, or SAEN.

If investigators decide to consider it abuse, biotechnologies would face a $240,000 fine for the violations.

"This is the kind of thing that private individuals allow animals to suffer in this way in their care, they would face criminal charges but places like this, Santa Cruz Biotech, get a free pass," says Budkie.

Santa Cruz Biotechnologies wasn't available for comment on Monday.