Animal Testing: The Influence Of Experimentation On Animals

It is estimated that over 150 million vertebrate animals, including mice, birds, fish, rabbits, dogs, chimpanzees, and other non-human primates, are used for animal testing every year. The United States and Gabon are the only two countries that allow experimentation on chimpanzees. Animals are either killed during experiments, severely injured by harmful chemicals or subsequently euthanized. On a British debate site, a woman quotes ”I think it is wrong to test anything on animals, it does not matter what animal it is - a rat, monkey, dog or rabbit. It is not right to abuse them like that and they don't deserve to die in a horrible way.” Kayley, WI.
Test animals have been “purpose bred”, meaning that not only them but the animals that gave birth to them have been tested and force bred by doctors and scientist also. Animal testing is conducted by universities, the military, government agencies corporations, contract research organizations, cleaning suppliers, and a large variety of cosmetic companies. Although there are regulations to using animals for testing, many companies sadly do not follow them and treat the animals extremely unfair. These regulations are replacement, reduction, and refinement. Replacement meaning use of non-animal
methods over animal methods,for example using things like animals and humans, but not using the animals or humans . Reduction meaning trying to obtain comparable levels of information from fewer animals, or to obtain more information from the same number of animals,for example, test many different things on one animals rather than one test per animal. Refinement meaning minimize potential pain, suffering or distress, and enhance animal welfare for the animals used, for example treat the animals like babies, not lab rats, care for them properly and respect that they are a living creature like you. Over 93% of animals used in experiments today are not protected by the three r’s.
A 2011 poll of nearly 1,000 biomedical scientists conducted by the science journal “Nature” found that more than 90% "agreed that the use of animals in research is essential”. People also say that it is “Saving our skin” or “Animals do not have rights, therefore it is acceptable to experiment on them.” Which are both understandable, using animal skin rather than human skin makes sense, why hurt a human when you can hurt an animal instead because it doesn't effect the universe as crudely. Some people also say “animals don’t have the same feelings and emotions as humans do, so it doesn't matter what we do to them” Michael, 23,WI. Animals also don't have legal right nor are they considered civilians, but that doesn't mean that they deserve to be harmed and mistreated.
Besides the inhumanity and abuse in animal testing, it also cost a ton of money.
On an anti-animal testing website, their research shows that “ The USA spends $12 billion dollars annually for animal testing at taxpayers' expense…” 1.7 million dollars is spent on inducing depression to baby monkeys, 1.6 million dollars is turning mice and monkeys to alcoholics, and more insane amounts of money spent on worthless tests. The US could be giving $715 monthly to homeless veterans, or hire an additional 332,000 teachers to help educate in third world countries. But instead they take the US citizens money and practice an evil act. How does it feel thinking that your favorite pet you take care of at home could of been tested on in a
lab?