Biology - Other

Should Animals be used for Experimentation



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Animal experimentation. This is the topic most people around the world see almost every day. There is one question many people seem to ask: is it right or is it wrong? It all really depends on what the animal is being tested on, of course.

According to ARFF (Animal Rights Foundation of Florida), "millions of rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, primates, and other animals are killed each year in the U.S. in scientific research, product and cosmetic testing, and in education. The animal's only legal protection, the federal Animal Welfare Act does not cover rats, mice or fish, despite the fact that they make up approx. 95% of all animals used in research! The Act does not prohibit any experiment, no matter how frivolous or painful.

"In 2007, over 7,500 animals were used in research in Florida. Included in this number were 1237 pigs, 716 nonhuman primates, 441 cats, 403 dogs, 303 rabbits and 232 sheep. NOT included in this number are the tens of thousands of mice and rats used in research every year in Florida.

The largest research facilities in Florida are the University of Florida, University of Miami and the University of South Florida each killing thousands of animals every year in experiments. Other institutions, such as Mount Sinai Medical Center, use fewer animals but have records of cruel treatment of animals."

Want another example? According to http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty/animal_testing.htm, "Of the drugs marketed between 1976 and 1985, 52% were found to be more dangerous to humans than previously indicated by animal studies.

In 1989 a study was done to determine the carcinogenicity of fluoride. During a period of two years, daily doses of fluoride were given to about 520 rats and 520 mice. Not a single mouse was adversely affected by the fluoride, but the rats experienced health problems like cancer of the mouth and bone. This study shows how test data cannot be accurately extrapolated from one species to another.

Drugs like thalidomide, Zomax and DES were all tested on animals and judged safe but had devastating consequences for the humans who used them. More than half of the prescription drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration between 1976 and 1985 were withdrawn from the market or relabeled because of the serious side effects they had on humans. They had all been tested on animals."

Sounds like animal experimentation is really all that great, huh? Actually, in reality, animal experimentation's not all that great. Don't you all see? Millions of animals die every year due to experimental testing. It might not sound as bad as it does, but if you read all of this, you'd understand how wrong it really is. Think about it for a moment.

(Note: The information in this article was provided by http://www.animalrightsflorida.org/Experimentation.html and http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty/animal_testing.htm)

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ARTICLE SOURCES AND CITATIONS
  • InfoBoxCallToAction ActionArrowhttp://www.animalrightsflorida.org/Experimentation.html
  • InfoBoxCallToAction ActionArrowhttp://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty/animal_testing.htm
  • InfoBoxCallToAction ActionArrowhttp://www.animalrightsflorida.org/Experimentation.html
  • InfoBoxCallToAction ActionArrowhttp://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty/animal_testing.htm