DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A consumer health education group says the organization alleging a Wayne State University researcher was abusing dogs in cardiovascular experiments may not be a credible source.

A Washington-based group called the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) asked federal regulators on Wednesday to investigate the lab of Donal O’Leary, claiming he caused the dogs unrelieved pain and distress.

Despite the group’s name, only about eight percent of PCRM is made up of doctors. Ruth Kava of the American Council on Science and Health says that’s not enough.

“Well, I don’t think they’re seen as a credible scientific resource by mainstream scientists,” Kava said.

But John Pippin, a spokesman for the PCRM, says his organization’s views are mainstream.

“Our approach is to focus on finding win-win scenarios regarding the use of animals,” Pippin said.

WSU is looking into the petition PCRM has filed with the USDA and had no comment.

In an 11-page petition, the group says dogs have suffered through multiple surgeries and repeated turns on the treadmill. The group based much of its complaint on public documents. The petition highlights the case of Queenie, a Dalmatian mix that was formerly a stray dog in Gratiot County. The group says the dog was killed in 2010 after more than nine months of intense research.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.