-Image taken from Shutterstock
Table of contents:
- The facts
- Why it needs to change
- Alternatives
- What is being done?
- What you can do to help!
The facts
What is animal testing?
Animal testing refers to procedures carried out on living animals for the purpose of basic biology and disease research. This helps to determine the effectiveness of new medicinal products and the potential effect on human health/environmental safety of these products. (Humane Society International, 2012)
Even experiments classed as "mild"
have the potential to inflict physical and psychological suffering on animals. These operations can often result in a tremendous amount of pain. The majority of animals are killed at the end of each experiment, although some may be utilised again in the future. (Cruelty Free International, 2019)
-Image taken from Shutterstock
Important facts
In 2019 a total of 3.4 million experiments were completed on animals. Of the 51% of animals used in experiments, 551,835 of them were subjected to experiments that even the researchers considered had caused them moderate or severe suffering. (Cruelty Free International, 2019)
In 2018 alone, 3.52 million mice, dogs, monkeys, and rabbits suffered and died in UK labs. (Humane Society International, 2019)
Why it needs to change
1. It’s not reliable
The National Institutes of Health reports that 95 out of every 100 drugs that pass animal tests fail on humans because they don’t work or are dangerous. (PETA, 2018)
2. It’s unethical
Animals have been recently formally recognised as sentient beings in the UK, meaning that it has been scientifically proven that they can feel and experience emotions such as pain, fear, and loneliness. This shows that they experience the same things we humans experience making it incomprehensible that we would put them through such experiments. (PETA, 2018)
3. It’s unnecessary
There are so many alternatives to animal testing that are often cheaper, quicker, and more effective. One of the main alternatives is using cell cultures. Almost every type of human cell can be grown in a laboratory. Human cells have been used to create little devices called ‘organs-on-chips’. These can be used instead of animals to study biological and disease processes, as well as drug metabolism. (PETA, 2018)
Alternatives
In Vitro Cell Culture
"Organs-on-chips” are chips that contain human cells grown in a method that resembles the structure and function of human organs and organ systems (PetaUK). These chips can be used to predict how the human body will respond to drug testing, disease research, and toxicity testing. They have also been shown to mimic human physiology, diseases, and drug responses more accurately than animal experiments do.
Computer (in Silico) Modelling
Researchers have created a diverse set of advanced computer models that imitate human biology and disease progression. According to studies, these models can effectively predict how new medications will respond in the body.
Human-Patient Stimulators
Students can learn physiology and pharmacology better with strikingly lifelike computerised human-patient simulators that breathe, bleed, convulse, talk, and even "die". This stops the unnecessary need to dissect animals. The most advanced simulators are capable of simulating illnesses and injuries, as well as providing biological responses to medical procedures and pharmaceutical injections. (Red Orange Peach, 2021)
What is being done?
Charities
There are hundreds of charities and organisations that work tirelessly to stop the use of animals in scientific testing. They do this by teaching the public about animal testing and why it is unnecessary. Some organisations get people to go undercover in animal testing labs to uncover information and expose what goes on in these labs.
Cruelty Free
International Animal Aid PETA
Laws
Last year (2021) a new law was introduced recognising animals as being sentient beings. As mentioned earlier, this means it has been scientifically proven that they can feel and experience emotions such as pain, fear, and loneliness. In terms of protection, this has enabled an Animal Sentience Committee made up of experts to be established in parliament. This means that this committee will advise and inform the government on current issues with animal testing and what steps need to be taken to improve these animals’ welfare. (GOV.UK, 2021)
What you can do to help
Raise awareness
Don't keep people oblivious of these inhuman treatments. Because knowledge is power, talk about what you have learnt. You could even share this post with friends and family to raise awareness of this problem.
Donate
The charities and organisations that help stop animal testing rely on donations and funding to continue their vital work. Even £10 could help them to lobby governments into introducing some laws protecting animals. (Cruelty Free International, 2020)
Buy cruelty-free products
As there are so many alternatives to animal testing, it's very important that we support the companies that are using these methods. If you aren’t sure whether or not your favourite brands use animal testing, you can search the brand name in PETA's comprehensive database. Another simple and quick way to see if a company uses animal testing is to check for the Bunny sign. This sign signifies that the company that manufactured the product does not perform any testing on animals.
- The bunny sign
I hope you found this post interesting and that you learnt something new about animal testing ♥️!
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