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Vivisection
Worldwide, it is estimated that 50 to 100 million animals are used in experiments each year. Animal tests are carried out by pharmaceutical companies, medical research institutes, teaching hospitals, government research facilities, universities and by numerous cosmetic and household product manufacturers.
Pharmaceuticals, pesticides and other toxic chemicals are force fed or injected into animal’s stomachs. Animals are driven mad in psychological tests, deprived of food and water for extended periods and subjected to maternal deprivation. Universities still cut open live animals in biology studies and schools kill and dissect thousands of animals even though advanced cruelty-free models and computer programs are available.
Animal Cruelty - Not Science
Despite advancements in medical science, many animals are still used in ridiculous experiments. Animals are infected with diseases that they would not normally contract, forced to inhale cigarette smoke and used to test the effects of illicit drugs. Animals are also used in trauma tests where researchers deliberately inflict painful injuries on live animals so that treatments for the injuries can be studied.
Flimsy protection
The public are led to believe that animals used in research are protected by stringent animal protection laws. The reality is, animal research is conducted behind closed doors away from the public eye. Animal ethics committees do not safeguard animals from painful experiments, they exist to soothe public concerns and protect researchers and institutions from scrutiny.
If granted permission, it is perfectly legal for researchers to implant tumours into animals, perform painful procedures without anaesthetic and use the same animal in more than one experiment.
Moving forward
Relying on animal based research to test new drugs and discover cures for disease is dangerous because of the physiological differences between humans and non-human animals and may hinder the progression of medical science.
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Valuable research grants and funds could be better utilised by investing in preventative health programs which promote a healthy diet and better lifestyle choices. These days modern laboratories are adopting sophisticated non-animal research techniques which are progressing medical science and achieving results. These include human gene studies, human cell cultures, computer models, in-vitro (test-tube) studies and epidemiology tests.
Act Now:
- Boycott products that have been tested on animals, instead support companies who have pledged not to test on animals.
- Write to companies that test on animals and let them know that while they continue to use animals you will not buy their products.
- Refuse to dissect or use animals at School, TAFE or University.
- Don't give to charities that test on animals.
- Reduce your risk of disease by avoiding the consumption of animal products. A diet rich in fruit and vegetables is one of the best ways to stay healthy and protect you from disease! For healthy animal - free recipes, please visit our vegan food resource.
- For more information on vivisection and other animal rights issues, please order a free animal rights action pack here.
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