Animal Testing: Fair or unfair?

[Jessi Jorgensen]

 More than 100 million animals every year suffer and die in cruel chemical, drug, food and cosmetic tests, biology lessons, medical training exercises, and curiosity-driven medical experiments.

There are many pros and cons to animal testing but I personally think there are far more cons to it. The major pro for animal testing is that it aids researchers in finding drugs and treatments to improve health and medicine including cancer and HIV drugs, insulin, vaccines and many more. Another pro is the fact that animal testing claims to help ensure the safety of drugs and other substances that humans are frequently exposed to including cosmetics, lotions and shampoos. Scientists claim to use animals because they are considered similar to humans but in reality, there are a plethora of other options and methods for testing products besides inflicting cruel, inhumane pain upon innocent animals.

The cons of animal testing could go on forever. Countless animals are experimented on and then killed after their use. The are basically thrown away like garbage when they have weakened and sickened them to the point of death. Others though, are injured and will still live the remainder of their lives in captivity. People don't take the time to understand the cruelty that goes on in testing labs. Monkeys are addicted to drugs and have holes drilled into their skulls, sheep and pigs have their skin burned off and rats have their spinal cords crushed. This could all be stopped very simply. Many use the excuse that animal testing is cheaper, when in reality,  the alternatives cost a fraction of what animal experiments cost. There are many alternatives that are cheaper, faster and more accurate at predicting human reactions to a product than animal testing ever was. Some alternatives include human cell-based in vitro (test tube) toxicity screening and antibodies—which are used to research, diagnose, and fight diseases and have traditionally been created by injecting cancer cells into mice—can now be produced using DNA that's made in a laboratory or taken from human cells.

 

 

Right now, millions of mice, rats, rabbits, primates, cats, dogs, and other animals are locked inside cold, barren cages in laboratories across the country because of animal testing. With all of these alternatives, is it worth the pain and suffering? Tell me what you think.

[Aricela Marquez]

I hate to admit it, but us humans are selfish creatures. We will use others to protect our own.  As much as I don't like the thought of animal testing, I wouldn't want to test what may not be safe on me. I think animal testing is the same as eating meat. We don't like the thought of it, but for our own selfish pleasure we turn our heads.

[Keely Ward]

I think animal testing is wrong. If it was the only way to test a lot of products I might think differently, but with all those alternatives there is no need for it. Shopping for things that are not tested on animals is hard, but when I do find shampoos and conditioners that are not I always pick those.

[Kristina Lopez]

Animal testing is wrong, and I refuse to buy any product that is tested on animals.  There is no reason why we need to kill so many animals.  A lot of people don't realize that different medicine or cosmetic products can affect the animal and not us, or the other way around.  Technology today can provide us with so many different options, yet no one does anything about it.  It is not fair to torture an animal so that women can get longer eye lashes.  It does not make any sense to me.

[Alanna Krivanek]

I agree with you, I hate the idea of animal testing. And it doesnt really make much sense because like the video said "mice are not men" which means they react differently than we would. But as bad as it is, like everyone else said, what other options are there?

[JohnPaulus V Arcangel]

It's the only practical choice out there right now. Human testing, even though its much more accurate, is far worse than animal testing tho, so I guess its fine. And its animal testing, not animal torture, usually the people doing this stay very professional in their jobs, and reduce the suffering as much as possible.

[Darby Douglas]

I think animal testing is bad. But when I think about what other alternatives there would have to be taken to compensate, I can't think of any. There's human testing, but I think that's far too risky. I don't know how else you would test products without harming animals, which I think is horrible. I don't really know where I stand on this.

[Haley Bohl]

animal testing is horribly unfair. i agree that it would be dangerous to try on people and that we would rather hurt animals than our own race. but people have taken it way to far. testing make up and such is fine and whatever but testing possibly horrible drugs is just ridiculous.

[Meghan Byrne]

I don't really know where I stand on this issue. After seeing this video, I really feel like beating someone up. Animals really should not have to go through. Whether it hurts them or not. But then, would we want humans to be tested on? Its just as bad, if not worse.