Should Animal Testing Be Banned?

Animal testing describes procedures performed on living animals to develop medical treatments, determine the toxicity of medications, check the safety of products destined for human use and other biomedical, commercial and health care uses. This kind of research has been practiced since at least 500 BC. It is estimated that there are more than 115 million animals used in laboratory experiments every year worldwide. The most common animals are mice, rats, guinea pigs, dogs and rabbits. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport and dealers. However, the most used animals - mice and rats - are excluded from this act. In addition, there is the PHS Policy on Human Care and Use of Laboratory Animals that must be followed by institutions that receive federal funds for research with any vertebrate animal.

 

The most common reason why animals are used for research purposes is because they are biologically similar to humans and susceptible to many of the same health problems. Moreover, scientists can easily control their environment which would be more difficult in human testing. Furthermore, mice as an example also have a short life cycle so they can be studied throughout their whole lifespan, Yet, over 90% of drugs tested on animals fail in human trials, according to the National Institute of Health. Furthermore, the testing procedures are mostly cruel and inhumane. Animals are suffering and experience severe stress. Only a very low percentage of the test animals survive the experiments. 

 

In my opinion, animal testing should be banned because no animal should have to live under these conditions. There are not enough benefits to animal testing to justify it. Animals are just not similar enough to humans so the experiments could work. The failure rate is too high and the drugs that passed animal tests are not necessarily safe. New methods to assure the safety of products do exist. Cruelty-free drugs or cosmetic products are tested with human tissue-based and human cell-based research methods amongst others. Cruelty-free means that there are no animals included in the research. There are other methods so I think we should also use them instead of creating so much harm to these animals.

 

What do you think about animal testing? 

Should it be banned? Why or why not?

Do you pay attention to whether the products you buy are cruelty-free?

 

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-animal-testing

https://www.peta.org/features/faqs-about-animal-testing/

https://redorangepeach.com/animal-cruelty/testing-in-usa/

https://www.humanesociety.org/all-our-fights/taking-suffering-out-science

https://www.physiology.org/career/policy-advocacy/animal-research/Why-do-scientists-use-animals-in-research?SSO=Y#:~:text=Animals%20are%20good%20research%20subjects,span%20or%20across%20several%20generations.

https://www.physiology.org/career/policy-advocacy/animal-research/how-animal-research-is-regulated?SSO=Y

https://www.hsi.org/news-media/about/

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  • Great topic choice and super job Laura!

  • I think that animal testing is bad and shouldn't happen. It hurts animals that don't deserve that. I don't get why they have to be tested for something that they don't want to be tested for. I try to pay attention whether the products I buy are cruelty-free because I feel bad for the animals that had to get tested for stuff.

  • I personally feel that animal teesting is harsh punish to animals. When there are situtiations no one would test some of what they test on animals on a human. I do feel it should it be banned as i stated prior i wouldnt test some of what they test on an animal on a human. Why should it be ok to test on an innocent animal when you wouldnt test any of it on a human. Are animals not conisdered family in a home settin? I personally feel it is curel and inhumane to animals. I do pay attention as i w0ont spend pointless money for something willl harm my animial. I stand my ground on not spending money on things to harm my animals. Also that is why i pay attention to where my dogs toys are made. China put harmful chemicals in the food, treats, and toys. 

  • I personally believe that animal testing should be banned. I think that it is extremely cruel and wrong to test any product or medicine on animals. I wish I could say that I pay attention to whether or not a product is cruelty free, but it is not something that I often look for.

    • I agree with you. Sometimes, I also struggle with paying attention whether a product is cruel-free or not. I wish I would do it more consistensly but as long as everyone is doing their best, I think we're moving in the right direction. I hope that there will be better labeling for cruelty-free products in the future. 

  • I personally believe that animal testing is very wrong and should be banned as a result. Even though in some cases it's beneficial, the majority of the time it's not and they live in very cruel, harmful, and very painful conditions. I think testing medicines it's justifiable, but in every other case, it's not, and I don't think it will ever be.

    • I agree with you. The conditions the animals have to life under are just cruel. 

  • I think that animla testing is wrong and it should be banned because they can still feel pain and if there are other ways to test things without harming a living things then why not do it. If you hurt a rat it will still squirm and squeal wouldn't that be disturbing to watch.

  • I think animal testing is horrible. It needs to be stopped. It should be banned from the whole world. We shouldn't be testing dangerous products on poor innocent animals. I sometimes pay attention to if my products are cruelty free. But sometimes I just forget.

    • I agree with you. These animals have nothing done wrong and they aren't just some "test objects". They are living creatures with feelings. 

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