animal testing pros.docx

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Animal Testing Pros

It has been a very common practice to test a household compounds,cosmetics and pharmaceutical products on animals for a very long time. As a matter if fact, it hasbeen estimated that nearly 20 million animals are used for testing and are killed annually. Out ofthese, 15 million are tested for medication and 5 million are tested for other products. Reports also

indicate that about 10% of these animals are not administered with adequate pain killers.

Across the world, new products ranging from cancer drugs to soaps and shampoos are tested onthe animals. There are many questions regarding the ethics of using animals for testing. Hence,several regulations have been put in place that evaluate and control the animals that are being usedfor testing purposes. It is believed that these regulations will ensure that research is carried out in ashumane and as ethical manner as possible. However, these regulations are also under a lot ofargumentation.

A survey conducted in the American Medical Association indicates that 99% of all active physiciansin the United States believe that animal research has given rise to medical advancements. In fact,about 97% of the physicians also supported the continuous use if animals for clinical and basicresearch. The main reason behind this is the fact that scientists have found that there is very little or

difference between the lab animals and humans. A British organization by the name ResearchDefense Society (RDS) that was instituted to defend animal testing indicates that most of thecomplaints made against animal testing are not correct and also that animal testing generatesinvaluable information about how new drugs would react inside a living body. The tests have to becontinued in order to detect information of any major health problems that can be caused by thedrugs like liver damage, enhanced blood pressure, nerve damage and damages to the fetus

Animal Testing Pros

When every member in our family is hale and hearty, it is very difficult to understand as to why theinnocent animals are used for testing purposes that usually ends up killing them. But it usually startsto make more sense when someone in the family or you yourself starts suffering from a lifethreatening disease. It is a very symbiotic relationship that is also a very integral part of medical

research. Testing on animals has helped develop vaccines for many life threatening diseases likeHerpes Simplex, Hepatitis B, Polio, rabies, malaria, mumps and virus related to organtransplantation rejection. In addition to this, animal testing has also helped in the refinement ofprocedures related to measuring the blood pressure, pacemaker technology and the perfection ofthe heart and lung diseases. You will be surprised to read that anesthesia which is used to numb thebody during surgery and acute pain is available today after it was successfully tested on animalsfirst.

Human beings are not the only living creatures that have benefited from animal testing. Heart wormmedication was devised from research on animals and has to day helped in saving the lives of manydogs. Animal research has also provided better understanding of cat nutrition and the reasonsbehind as to why cats live longer and remain healthier are better understood.

Finding a cure and a vaccine for AIDS has become one of the most important goals of the medicalresearch industry. The animal models for AIDS are a very important part of the research as theyhelp in understanding the biology of immune-deficiency viruses.

The fact of the matter is that to make advances in the field of medicines, animal testing is a must.Restraining or banning the testing by animal activists will not help in any way. It is up to us and allindividuals belonging to animal organizations and medical research to ensure that the same iscarried out in a safe, ethical manner causing as little pain and discomfort possible to the animal. Ifanimal testing was to be outlawed then there would be very little scope of obtaining information thatwould be very necessary to eliminate suffering and premature deaths in both humans and animals.


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Arguments Against Animal TestingThere are no real alternatives to animal experimentation, as alternatives are those

options that arise in order to replace something of somewhat the same worth, and there is nothing else in the

world that is quite as useless, harmful and misleading as animal experimentation. This is why animal rights

activists all over the world should start declining medicines that have been tested on animals.

"I have studied the question of vivisection for thirty-five years and am convinced that experiments onliving animals are leading medicine further and further from the real cure of the patient. I know of noinstance of animal experiment that has been necessary for the advancement of medical science; stillless do I know of any animal experiment that could conceivably be necessary to save human life."-H. Fergie Woods, M.D.

Clearly, it is pretty much impossible to untest a particular drug. Now that the knowledge of its use isalready with us, most individuals dont even bother looking into the means through which it wasinitially obtained. Yes, of course a person may very well regret the fact that insulin came about onlyafter experimenting on dogs, but they are basically powerless when it comes to changing the fact.What we need to know is that animal testing doesnt have a monopoly on the existence of insulin oron the existence of any substance being used to treat some kind of illness.

On the other hand, it would be very wrong to state that animal testing has no scientific merit to it.However, the practical and humanitarian justification of animal testing must be called into questionwhen you consider other similar evil practices like imperialism and slavery, which were at one timemost certainly acceptable and useful to their perpetrators.

The most commonly held perception (or rather misconception) of animal testing is that it isnecessary for the development of cures, vaccines and other treatments for human illnesses.

Supporters ask a very important question what would happen to research on cancer, heartdisease and AIDS if animal experimentation were to be completely stopped? Will the progress intreatments and cures for such illnesses also come to a stop?

There is a rapidly growing movement of healthcare professionals that include scientists; doctors andeven some educated members of the public who are extremely opposed to animals based testing,specifically on scientific and medical grounds. They are of the opinion that animal testing andresearch is completely based on false premises, that the results that are obtained from suchexperimentation cannot be applied to the human body.

Not only do animals react differently from humans where drugs, experiments and vaccines areconcerned, but they also tend to react differently from each other. Ignoring these differences hasbeen and will continue to be extremely costly to human health.

One of the most famous examples when it comes to the dangers of animal experimentation wouldhave to be the Thalidomide Tragedy of the 60s and 70s. Thalidomide was a drug that came out ofthe German market and was previously considered to be safely tested on thousands and thousands

of animals. It was then marketed as a wonder drug; an amazing sedative for breastfeeding orpregnant mothers and it supposedly could cause no harm to either the mother or the child. Despitethis apparent safety testing,tens of thousands of children whos mothers had used this drug wereborn with severe deformities.

Another good example of the dangers of animal testing is Clioquinol, which was also supposed to besafely tested on animals and later on had a severely adverse impact on humans. Manufactures inthe 70s in Japan, it was marketed as a wonder drug for providing relief from diarrhea. Not only did itnot work on humans, but it even cause diarrhea in them! As a result of this drug being administeredto the public, thousands of cases of paralysis and blindness and thousands of death cases occurredall over.

Now do you think that these two examples were just isolated cases exceptions? Even though most

drugs are routinely tested on animals, reports have shown that hundreds of thousands of people arekilled every year and more than 2 million are hospitalized due to these prescription drugs. Reportshave also shown that at least 4 out of every 10 patients who use a prescription drug can expect to


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suffer from sever or even noticeable side effects.

Many clinical observers will agree that the incidence of medically induces diseases are now so greatthat roughly 1 in every 10 hospitals beds will be occupied by patients who have been made ill bytheir doctors.

So, what happens to all those important breakthroughs caused by animal testing, and that haveenormously aided the overall human health? The animal research industry has given manyexamples of the success of cures and treatments for different illnesses that have only been foundthrough animal testing. They believe that if animal experimentation is stopped, then it will be at theexpense of life and the human health.

However, animal research has not aided in the fight against any of the major diseases. Take cancerfor example. Animal research has not aided in the least bit when it comes to warding off cancer. Infact, it has managed to divert resources from effective research and from the wisest of all solutionsprevention.

With countless innocent animals, billions of dollars and more than 30 to 40 years being spent on thewar against cancer, one would expect concrete results to show up if animal experimentation was

actually as effective as it is made out to be. On the contrary, the incidence of cancer has grown andcontinues to grow. Many cancer funds and organizations have claimed that we are now losing thewar against cancer because this animal-based cancer research is failing, and it just downrightstinks.

What progress has been made in the study of AIDS? Animals are still being used for experimentseven though they are not capable of developing the AIDS virus. The development of those lifesavingprotease inhibitors was initially delayed because of the misleading data that came out ofexperiments on monkeys. What good does it do to us, humans, to test something on them,monkeys? Youll probably find out some 5 to 6 years from now that it works on monkeys, but onceyou test it on humans, then youll realize that humans behave completely different. So, you justwasted five precious years of your life.

Clearly, if you we are looking to make any progress in medicine, an entirely new approach isrequired. Human medicine should no longer be dependent on veterinary medicine. It is dangerousand fraudulent to apply data retrieved from one species to another entirely different species.

Animal testing will continue to confuse all issues and their results will most definitely be precise andaccurate. There is no basic connection between animal testing and the human health. The generalbelief in the goodness of animal testing is basically the result of brainwashing that the general publichas been subjected to for a long, long time. Behind these torturous practices are the pharmaceuticalcompanies that spend billions of dollars on financing and publicizing the research universities andinstitutes. I rest my case.

Researchers to Conduct SARS Tests on Animalsby Amanda Katz and Patricia Collier

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organization for AnimalHealth have asked a team of Australian scientists to infect a number of chickens, pigs and cats withthe virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) to help determine if the diseaseoriginated in animals.

Chickens were selected because they are thought to have been responsible for the first cases ofSARS, which occurred in the Guangdong province of China. Pigs are to be used because they arethe source of many zoonotic diseases. The reaction of cats to the virus will be studied because theyare susceptible to feline infectious peritonitis, a virus similar to the one that causes SARS.

The scientists are going to conduct their research in a laboratory in Geelong that is the most securefacility of its type in the world. Fear that the virus responsible for SARS may be carried by animalshas prompted a large number of individuals in Asia to abandon or even kill their pets.


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"There is the possibility that (SARS) originates from animals, but there are no signs that pets areable to carry the virus that causes it," said University of Hong Kong professor Dr. Malik Petis. "Thereis no need for pet owners to worry."

Animal Testing FactsIt is sad that the self proclaimed superior in the animal kingdom should use products

and medication at the expense of the death and abuse of lower species. It is important to stay updated on the

facts about animal testing.

Facts about Animal Testing

There are live animal experiments authorized and around the world, animals are now used asobjects of experiments, to test a variety of products. The product range is as diverse as skin creamsand shampoos to cancer prevention drugs and vaccines.

In certain countries, the law specifies that a new drug should essentially be tested on at least two

different species of live mammal, one of which must be a large non-rodent!

Even though the Animals Act specifies that there should be no animal experiments conducted ifthere is a realistic alternative and yet, almost every medication in the market has been tested onanimals. Animals have been used in the development of anesthetics to prevent human sufferingduring surgery!

Understanding the extent of damage

It is very important to be sensitive to the treatment meted out to these lower species. In fact, it is ourpower of discrimination and reasoning and sensitivity that actually makes us superior. It is disgustingto note that less than 2% of all human illnesses are on record in the animal kingdom, and yet we usethem to find cures to self inflicted illnesses that have been invited upon us with unhealthy and re-

structured living and eating habits.

Research reveals that only 5 to 25% of the animal tests and human results are agreeable! Most ofthe drugs passed by animal tests are now discarded as useless to humans then why test in thefirst place?

The effects of animal testing on animals

The conditions under which the animals are subjected to human experimentation have causedtumors in rodents, while the animal test results were declared to be of little relevance for humans!The only explanation being offered for this declaration is the fact that there are anatomical andphysiological differences between animals and humans. It is important to note that although animalsare almost always used in cancer research, they never get the human form of cancer which affects

membranes like the lungs. Almost 9% of the anaesthetized animals in the laboratory die!

Where do the differences lie?

It is interesting to note that 83% of substances are metabolized differently by animals and humans.Most medical experts agree that data from animal tests cannot be extrapolated safely to humanpatients. In animal testing, while lemon juice, which is safe fro humans, is a deadly poison arsenicand botulin are safe. Genetically modified animals cannot be models for human illness. In fact 88%of still-births on record are caused by drugs that are passed as safe in animal tests.

The human angle

Out of the recorded number of deaths attributed to medical treatment via drugs passed post-animal

testing, the truth is that majority cases were hospitalized due to faulty procedure adopted and wrongmethod of application. 40% human patients display side effects as a result of prescriptions and mostof the medicines released post-animal testing, only a very small percentage is essential. A small


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percentage of fatal illnesses and a negligible percentage of organic based illness are caused bymedications that have animal tested.

Contrary to the lifesaving epithet used when referring to science and medicine, the operation forectopic pregnancies was delayed due to vivisection! It has been proved that the discovery ofanesthetics has nothing to do with prior experiments on animals. In fact, the fluroxene has been

universally recognized as a dramatic example of misleading evidence from animal data'. Whileaspirin fails animal tests, insulin causes animal birth defects. Despite the global aplomb and Nobelprizes to dedicated vivisectors, less than half of them agree that animal experiments are crucial.

The world of science has on record more than 400 methods that can effectively replace animalexperiments. It is important to consider the options since at least thirty-three animals die inlaboratories each second worldwide. There is no doubt that medical progress can be achievedwithout abusing animals.

Animal Testing StatisticsAnimal testing statistics is a touchy and sensitive subject for many individuals. There is a lot of hue and cry over

the ever increasing animal testing statistics from organizations working in the field of animal rights. To knowmore about the animal testing statistics, read on.

It is all about sensitivity and empathy that us humans are capable of showing towards other speciesthat share this world with us. For a long time, we have used animals especially, guinea pigs, cats,mice, rabbits, monkeys and dogs etc, for the purpose of testing drugs and cosmetic formulations.The animal testing statistic is on the rise because pharmaceuticals and cosmetic companies alongwith domestic product manufacturers are spending billions of dollars on animal testing. They areusing these animals to test their chemical preparations or drugs on, in order to detect and study theeffectiveness or the adverse effects of such drugs.

Animal Testing StatisticsAnimal testing is a multifaceted issue. There are those people who lend their support for animal

testing and naturally, some are against it. There are individuals, who cannot weigh theanimal testingpros and consto decide for themselves which side of the fence they are going to get off. Individuals,who doesn't know anything about animal testing statistics or choose to ignore what it implies arealso part of the scene, through their consumption of the products tested on the animals.

The issue is now being weighed in numbers i.e. animal test statistics. The following are some of theanimal testing factsbased on the data available, especially, in the United States:

Each year 56 to 100 million cats and 54 million dogs are born in the United States.

Annually, the number of dogs and cats that are put to death in animal shelters isbetween 10.1 and 16. 7 million.

Dogs and cats that are used in research are taken out ofanimal shelters. Theseanimals would otherwise be euthanized. Their number comes to approximately

1.1% of dogs and cats euthanized in shelters. At the most one dog or cat is used in research while at the same time 50 are

destroyed in animal shelters.

The approximate number of animals used in research, each year, is 17-22 millionwhich is much smaller as compared to the 5 billions animals that are killed andconsumed for food, each year.

Most of the research is conducted on rodents such as rats or mice. Rodentsconstitute 85-90% of the research animals.

Out of the total, only 0.5% of research animals are non-human primates.

It is said that 61% of the animals used in research suffer no pain, as against 6% thatexperience pain.

31% of the animals are relieved of pain through a euthanasia.

The animal test statistic points to the fact that 50% of all animals used in cosmetictesting die 2-3 weeks after the experiments.
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The animal statistics also show that at least 12 million animaltesting experiments were conducted in Europe during 2005.

In 2005, 2.3 million animals were used in France, where asGermany made use of 1.8 million animals.

Finland and Ireland managed to lower the number of animalsused for testing. On the other hand, animal testing statistics make

it clear that countries like Sweden, Spain and Greece almostdoubled their use of animals for testing.

In Europe, there is a lot of public support for ban on animaltesting. On the contrary, animal testing statistics show that thereis a 2.3% increase in the number of animals used for testing.

The United Kingdom has banned cosmetic testing since 1990.

France, which is one of the most influential nations in Europe, isagainst the ban on animal testing.

Animal Testing ProsThe arguments forwarded by the cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies, government andprivate research firms and individuals that support animal testing are as follows. Here is ananimaltesting proslist:

Animal testing helps them in making safe products, before theyare launched in the market for human consumption.

The decrease in human deaths due to cardiovascular diseases isbecause of the knowledge gained out of animal testing andresearch.

The animals are used in research, only when they areindispensable.

Animal testing helps preserve the environment.

During research the animals are treated humanely.

Animal Testing Cons

The basic argument that the animal rights activists have managed to gain public support for, is thatunder the disguise of these tests the animals are genetically modified, force-fed with harmfulchemicals, blinded, scalded and are mimed. This is nothing butanimal abuseoranimal cruelty. Thefollowing is an animal testing cons list:

The side against the animal tests proclaims that the main reasonfor conducting animal tests is to earn profit at the expense ofanimals and avoiding lawsuits from unsatisfied consumers.

Most of the times, these animals are used in the research of theconditions or diseases that are not found in them naturally, suchas different type of cancers to which humans falls prey or HIV.

Animal rights activists believe that animals have as an equal right

to life as that of human beings and they are especially againstanimal testing in cosmetic industries.

They also propose that alternatives available toanimalexperimentationsuch as chemical assay tests, tissue, cell andorgan culture systems, cloned human skin cells and patches,computer and mathematical models be employed, which theythink, will produce the same results as that of animal testing.

The issue of animal testing is muddled because of both sides presenting their own information on

this subject, supplemented with animal tests statistics, in the ways best suited for them. It appears

that the decrease in the number of animals used for the testing, in one place is compensated by the

increase in the number of the same, in other parts of the world.
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