Why Should Animal Testing Be Banned?

Animal testing is a methodology implemented to identify the effectiveness of a drug on any animal before issuing it to humans. Animal testing was commonly practiced from the age of Greeks themselves. Some historical figureheads who made use of animal testing are Aristotle, Erasistratus and Galen (Hajar,R., 2011). Without animal testing there can be severe consequences, for example, in 1937 a pharmaceutical establishment in the USA manufactured a medicine. The manufacturer did not know that one of the ingredients in the medicine was poisonous to human beings. Due to the lack of knowledge, the firm manufactured the medicine in bulk quantities without conducting animal testing. The end result was disastrous as the death toll witnessed a sudden
As mentioned before, animal testing is a methodology in which medicines are tested on animals initially, and then tested on animals. In relation to this matter, Kolar (2006) has mentioned how various medicines are applied on animal’s skins, eyes, organs and sometimes forced to inhale them. The drug effects are then observed for a while. Sometimes the animals which are subjects to the test, experience extreme pain before it dies. The number of animals that die as test subjects to animal testing is about 100 million animals in a single year; this takes place in the United States of America alone (Hackman & Donald, 2006). The number of animals that die naturally is lower that the animals that die as test subjects; if this trend continues, the animals will soon cease to exist. According to a Wall Street Journal, the author stated, “In the last decade, at least 6 states have enacted second- or third-offense felony animal cruelty laws, only to readdress and upgrade them to first-offense laws within a few years.” (Pastures, 2008). From this explanation is can be seen that the related authorities did not show complete involvement or interest in this matter. The authorities just enhanced the existing law. From all this data gathered, it can be said that the practice of animal testing needs to be banned as it is cruel and inhumane; also this matter needs to be treated in a superior manner, as a lot of organization
For example, according to a scholarly research journal, a study was conducted in which mice were used as test subjects. The medicine that resulted from this test proved to be very useful, as it helped lots of people to be relieved of breast cancer. (Office of Media Relations, 2004). However, a lot of money could have been saved if that medicine was discovered without the use of animal testing, in addition to that, a lot of time could have also been saved. In another note, animal test served as a useful method for finding cures for humans as well as animal; thus these tests have actually saved a lot of lives throughout the ages. However, a lot of animal are being killed during the test phase or after the test