MADISON, Wis. -- A Wisconsin professor’s plans to study the effect of Taser weapons on pigs have come come under fire.

Professor John Webster was supposed to begin in May his research that involved shooting pigs -- even some that had been given cocaine -- with Taser weapons.

He hoped to prove that Taser guns don’t kill people.

Members of PETA don’t see it that way.

PETA members handed out fliers on Library Mall Wednesday protesting what they call a “cruel and unnecessary experiment.”

Webster called the protesters misinformed. He said his research would not hurt the pigs.

“The pigs will be anesthetized,” said Webster. “I've had general surgery under anesthesia and I don't think the surgeon was cruel to me."

A second UW professor who planned to work with Webster on a different study dropped out of the $250,000 grant research, stating she couldn’t work with someone who would do such research on animals.

"I had a lot of objections to the cruelty involved in the experiments," said professor Terry Young. "The lack, as I saw, of applicable data to humans to make Tasers safe."

The UW animal care committee approved the research.

The chancellor responded to PETA stating, "Any proposed research is thoroughly reviewed and the committee does consider many factors such as alternative methods and investigator training."

The chancellor added that if research should cause anything more than momentary discomfort, the quality and adequacy of the anesthesia or pain relief is examined closely.

Webster said as a UW researcher his goal and hopes are to find the facts that will help people.

He added he thinks he's doing the right thing.

Young said she believes the research will lead to the indiscriminate use of Taser guns.