Meant for love, not cruelty.
Animal testing is an scientific experiment or test in which a live animal is forced to undergo something that is likely to cause it pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm. Forcing an animal to do a test is not taking our animal to the vet. Animals are mostly used for testing because of four main reasons:
It is used to advance the scientific understanding of humans as animals have many of the main basic cell processes that happen in humans. For example a lot has been learnt about the function of neurons after studying the giant squid axon.
Animals are also used as models to study disease because humans and animals share hundreds of illness and consequently animals can be used to as models to study the medical problems of humans. For example dogs suffer from cancer,diabetes and ulcers.
The third reason is so that we can develop and test theoretical forms of treatment. For example medicines for Parkinson’s disease have been developed using animal models with induced Parkinson's-like symptoms.
The last and final reason for animal to be used in testing is to protect the safety of the people and the environment.They not only identify potential safety concerns, but they also help to determine the doses which will be given to volunteers and patients during the first human trials. But let's look at the other side of animal testing... |
But let's look at the other side of animal testing...
Right now thousands and thousands of animals are locked inside lonely cages in laboratories languishing in pain and suffering from terrible procedures. Animals and people are alike in many ways; they both feel, think, behave, and experience pain. Thus, animals should be treated with the same respect as humans. Yet animals' rights are violated when they are used in research because they are not given a choice. Animals are subjected to tests that are often painful or cause permanent damage or even death. |