By the time you read this, PETA will have held a demonstration today in front of the Cleveland Clinic, protesting the unauthorized killing of a dog during a sales demonstration.

On 10 January, a neurologist at the prestigious clinic induced an aneurysm in an anesthetized dog and then used a new device made by California based Micrus Endovascular Corporation to treat aneurysms. The dog was later sacrificed because of the damage caused by the aneurysm.

PETA says after a whistleblower at the clinic alerted the group about the procedure, it asked the doctor to use a high-tech silicone model instead—to no avail. It is asking the clinic to enforce the use of alternatives to animal testing wherever possible.

The Cleveland Clinic has apparently finished its preliminary investigation and disciplined the doctor, although that didn’t involve sacking him. The clinic has seen some rather trying times lately.

A local television station is reporting today that a USDA official was at the clinic. The agency could fine the clinic up to $3700 per violation and revoke its animal research license.

According to the clinic, the doctor applied to the institutional animal care and use committee for permission to induce the aneurysm, but hadn’t received a response. The clinic says they would have rejected it—and I have to agree. Although the USDA technically allows the use of animals for demonstrating medical devices, I don’t think sacrificing a dog for a sales demonstration falls under acceptable use of animals for research.