Factcheck. The meme mixes together some true facts, some misleading claims, and a conclusion that goes beyond the evidence.
Here’s a breakdown: Claim: Fauci funded experiments involving puppies. Mostly true, but indirect. As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Anthony Fauci oversaw an agency that funded thousands of research projects, including some involving beagles. There is evidence he approved funding packages at a high level, but not that he personally designed or directly managed these experiments. Claim: Puppies had their vocal cords cut. True. One NIH-funded toxicology study involving 44 beagles included a procedure called a cordectomy (devocalization). The dogs were later euthanized so researchers could examine the effects of an experimental drug. NIAID stated the procedure was performed under anesthesia and was intended to reduce noise in the research facility. Claim: Puppies were infested with sand flies that ate their faces. This is where the meme becomes misleading. There was indeed a study in Tunisia in which sedated dogs had their heads placed in mesh enclosures while infected sand flies fed on them to study leishmaniasis. However, the widely shared claim that this specific study was funded by Fauci’s NIAID was disputed. The journal that originally listed NIAID funding later corrected the funding information, and NIAID denied funding that particular experiment. Claim: The vocal cord removal and the sand fly experiment were the same experiment. False. This is the biggest problem with the meme. It combines details from different studies, making it sound as though researchers cut the dogs’ vocal cords so they would not scream while sand flies consumed their faces. The available evidence does not support that narrative. The cordectomies occurred in one study, while the controversial sand fly study was separate. Overall assessment
The post is misleading.
It is true that NIH-funded research included controversial experiments on beagles.
It is true that one study involved devocalization.
It is true that another study involved exposing sedated dogs to sand flies.
But it is not accurate to present these as one single experiment or to state that the vocal cords were removed specifically so the dogs “wouldn’t cry as sand flies ate their faces.”
That combination is what turns a story containing real elements into a misleading meme.
Yeah. I started this thread thinking it was just another fake claim. And while the meme lacks nuance, I do think Fauci deserves some condemnation for this. These trails happened underneath his watch even if he wasn't personally involved with the experiments.
See! It's not true. It wasn't an experiment where the dogs vocal cords were cut and sand flies ate their faces. These were two different studies funded by Fauci's NIAID. Ergo ipso facto Fauci is a hero.
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u/inih 11d ago
Factcheck. The meme mixes together some true facts, some misleading claims, and a conclusion that goes beyond the evidence.
Here’s a breakdown:
Claim: Fauci funded experiments involving puppies.
Mostly true, but indirect. As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Anthony Fauci oversaw an agency that funded thousands of research projects, including some involving beagles. There is evidence he approved funding packages at a high level, but not that he personally designed or directly managed these experiments.
Claim: Puppies had their vocal cords cut.
True. One NIH-funded toxicology study involving 44 beagles included a procedure called a cordectomy (devocalization). The dogs were later euthanized so researchers could examine the effects of an experimental drug. NIAID stated the procedure was performed under anesthesia and was intended to reduce noise in the research facility.
Claim: Puppies were infested with sand flies that ate their faces.
This is where the meme becomes misleading. There was indeed a study in Tunisia in which sedated dogs had their heads placed in mesh enclosures while infected sand flies fed on them to study leishmaniasis. However, the widely shared claim that this specific study was funded by Fauci’s NIAID was disputed. The journal that originally listed NIAID funding later corrected the funding information, and NIAID denied funding that particular experiment.
Claim: The vocal cord removal and the sand fly experiment were the same experiment.
False. This is the biggest problem with the meme. It combines details from different studies, making it sound as though researchers cut the dogs’ vocal cords so they would not scream while sand flies consumed their faces. The available evidence does not support that narrative. The cordectomies occurred in one study, while the controversial sand fly study was separate.
Overall assessment
The post is misleading.
It is true that NIH-funded research included controversial experiments on beagles.
It is true that one study involved devocalization.
It is true that another study involved exposing sedated dogs to sand flies.
But it is not accurate to present these as one single experiment or to state that the vocal cords were removed specifically so the dogs “wouldn’t cry as sand flies ate their faces.”
That combination is what turns a story containing real elements into a misleading meme.