Animal Testing As Beneficial for Research and Science

In order to enjoy the products that we use every day, each product has to go through a series of tests in order to ensure that it is safe for humans to use. Millions of animals are being tested on every year in medical and cosmetic tests performed by several different industries. These animals are being used in order to ensure that products are safe for human usage. However, some of the tests that are performed are cruel and the animals are put in pain. Given that this is an extremely sensitive and controversial topic, there are many arguments that both support and oppose animal testing. One major argument that supports animal testing is the fact that the majority of animals that are used in the tests have a similar DNA makeup as humans. Therefore, it is the closest and most accurate test that can be performed without using an actual human being. However, organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), are activists who strive to bring more people to oppose animal testing. They use video clips and explicit detail while explaining the conditions the animals are put in in order to get their message across. “Right now, millions of mice, rats, rabbits, cats, dogs, and other animals are locked inside barren cages… in pain, suffer from extreme frustration, ache with loneliness, and long to be free” (PETA). Although both sides of the argument are valid, I personally believe that animal testing has helped researchers and it has ultimately lead them to scientific breakthroughs. Animal testing has shown several positive results such as successful medication and vaccines, however many believe that animal testing can often be misleading and is unethical to the animals that are the subjects of these tests.

There are many individuals who are against animals being tested in labs for medication and cosmetic purposes. One major reason is because the Animal Welfare Act is often bypassed. “The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) requires that minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for certain animals… used in research…” (USDA). However, the animals that are chosen for testing are not covered in this act because researchers choose animals whose rights do not fall under the jurisdiction of the AWA (“Pros and Cons”). Another problem with animal testing is the fact that not all animals react the same to certain tests. “In 2004, a report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration noted that 92 percent of new drug entities were failing during human clinical trials either because the new drugs were not effective in humans (having shown promise in animals) or because they were associated with unexpected toxicity (having been demonstrated to be safe in animals)” (Rowan, 452). This information disclosed by the U.S. FDA proves that humans and animals do in fact react differently to certain products and often times tests on animals can be misleading. Animal testing is also very cruel and inhumane. According to the Humane Society International, animals are often subject to force feeding, food and water deprivation, physical restraint, burned or inflicted with other wounds in order to study the healing process. For example, the Draize eye test is used by cosmetics companies to test the irritation caused by shampoo and other products. Primarily using rabbits, they incapacitate these animals and hold their eyelids open by clips, often for multiple days so that they cannot blink away the product that is being tested (HSI). Severe conditions as listed above are the reason why there are many advocates fighting for the permanent suspension of animal testing. Although there are many negative effects seen in the testing of animals, there are also several benefits that humans reap from these tests.

Researchers continue to use animals to test products because it has contributed to many life-saving cures and treatments. The California Biomedical Research Association states that almost every medical breakthrough that has occurred in the last 100 years has resulted directly from research involving animals. Animal research has contributed to major advances in both the understanding and treatment of conditions such as breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, malaria, and many other conditions. Contrary to popular belief, researchers also do use non-animal models for research whenever possible. They use computer models, tissue and cell cultures, and several other non-animal related research methods. However, they state that animal testing remains a necessity because certain things such as blindness cannot be studied in bacteria and must be seen in a living mammal (California Biomedical). Another argument that supports the testing of animals is the fact that animals themselves benefit from the results of animal testing. “Animal testing has also been instrumental in saving endangered species from extinction, including the black-footed ferret, the California condor and the tamarins of Brazil” (AALAS). Vaccines are being provided to animals after being proven successful in the same species. Also due to the fact that the average American woman uses about twelve personal care products every day, product safety is very important. The U.S. FDA endorses the use of animal test on cosmetics in order to assure the safety of the product or (USFDA). The argument for using animal testing is extremely valid and I personally support the usage of animals for medication and vaccine usage.

Prior to extensive research on this highly controversial topic, I was strictly against animals being used in labs for testing. The image that most people have when they hear about animal testing are the extremely cruel undercover footage that activists such as PETA disclose. Many major companies that use animals for product testing put these animals through unnecessary torture. Although the unfortunate mistreatment of animals happens, I believe that not all researchers treat these animals in such a negative way. The usage of animals for vaccine and disease treatment is crucial. As stated in the Poliomyelitis report by the World Health Organization, the polio vaccine that was tested on animals helped reduce the global occurrence of polio from 350,000 cases to a mere 223 cases within a span of twenty-four years. Another major breakthrough was when scientists were able to make a vaccine for hepatitis B. Chris Abee, the director of the Texas Anderson Cancer Center stated that without chimpanzees, the hepatitis B vaccine would have never existed. Currently, these researchers are looking to develop a vaccine for Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a disease that kills 15,000 people every year in the United States. Using these chimpanzees are helping researchers get closer and closer to finding a vaccine and ultimately prevent the deaths that are a result of this disease (“Texas Research”). The tests that are being run on these animals are ultimately working for a greater purpose the preservation and regulation of human life. There are many arguments that state that animals should have rights. Although I agree, many of these activists fail to realize that the animals that are being tested on are specifically bred for research purposes alone. They have very short life spans and would not survive in the wild themselves regardless. Therefore, I personally believe that sacrificing a lesser life for the advancement of a greater life is necessary and has helped us immensely in developing treatments and vaccines.

Animal testing has been a remarkably controversial topic for the past several years. Advocates fight for the freedom of the animals that are subject to tests and fight for the suspension of all tests performed on animals. On the other hand, there are many researchers who continue to perform these tests regardless of the arguments against it. Certain animals are put through excruciating pain and are tormented in order to ensure products are safe for human use. However, animals have ultimately provided humans with an unimaginably vast advancement in vaccines and treatment for certain diseases. Many animals have a similar DNA makeup as humans and are used as test subjects because it is the closest representation of our bodies. Due to the contribution of these animals, diseases and vaccines have improved tremendously over the past several decades. Although certain testing conditions for animals are unacceptable, if all researchers abide by the AWA, I believe that animal testing is a great way to find more treatments or even cures for certain diseases. Using a lesser being, such as an animal in order to find cures for deadly illnesses for the greater being, such as a human is justifiable. I firmly believe that animal testing should continue to be used in order for us to continue to excel medically for many more decades to come.

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