Animal Testing
...ared to the acting industry. While appearing as loving, nurturing individuals, they are often destructive behind the scenes (DeBakey). PETA, and other animal rights organizations claim to be opposed to any animal use in research, even if it did provide a cure for deadly diseases, such as AIDS or breast cancer. Some activists take their passions as far as the destruction of laboratories, expensive equipment, and collected data. It is also not far fetched to hear of a scientist being harassed or even hurt. With all of the fear projected by animal rights activists, many research institutions have delayed, and even cancelled experiments. Thus, possibly slowing the cure for deadly diseases, and ultimately causing more human deaths. Lawsuits are also being proposed against research institutions with the money that is raised at the benefits attended by famous faces (DeBakey). Many animal rights organizations, such as PETA have sprouted up throughout the country within the last decade. Activists involved with these organizations strongly believe in saving the lives of animals. They achieve the interest of others through public education, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns. They believe that animals are capable of suffering, as anyone would agree. Activists also feel that animals have their own lives to live. Their purpose here on earth is not to be used in ours, whether it be for clothing, food, or experimentation (DeBakey). Humans often use superficial characteristics as an excuse to treat others as if they are of a lesser value than them. When it comes to animals, the physical differences are even more obvious, and the resulting treatment is even more brutal. Animals are not able to communicate to humans verbally, which increases the problem. One may claim that a chimpanzee’s life is less valuable than a human life not because of physical appearance, but because of inferior intelligence. However, it is possible for an adult chimpanzee to exceed the intelligence of a severely mentally impaired human (Mukerjee, “Trends”). Activists go to great lengths in order to make their voices, and causes heard. These actions include the vandalism of laboratories, expensive equipment, and important research data. There is no doubt that animal rights activists feel just as strongly about their work as scientists feel about theirs. Ironically, while they are protesting to save animal lives, by ruining equipment and laboratories used for research, activists are assisting the killing of human lives. Have you ever noticed a “Free to Good Home” ad in the newspaper? These ads are pretty much like hitting the jackpot, if you’re an animal abuser. It is always important to check out the strangers you are giving a pet that you love away to. It is impossible to decide who is genuine, and who is not through a free advertisement. For the last six years Proctor & Gamble has committed to a non-animal testing policy. However, they have not been able to back their words up with facts. This leaves the public unaware of any progress in the reduction of animal use. Placing an ad that advertises your pet as free is like asking for he/she to be picked up by an animal abuser. The individuals that do this are referred to as “bunchers”. Bunchers are sent out to gather “free” pets, looking for a good home (“Know What,” Pawprints). Instead of providing them with a good home the defenseless animals are sold to laboratories, and used in their medical research. To make sure that an animal abuser does not outsmart you, it is a good idea to have a prospective owner fill out an adoption form. Also, it is not unreasonable to require that they pay a fee for your animal. Another problem with using domesticated animals in testing is theft. Large numbers of household pets are stolen each year, and sold to researchers in the black market. There are also such things as animal mills, where animals are bred specifically for use in experiments. It is common misconception that the testing of animals is only practiced when looking for cures to fatal diseases. While it is nice to believe this it is hardly the case. Animals can be used for miscellaneous testing such as cleaners, detergents, and even cosmetics. In 1999, Proctor & Gamble stated they will no longer test their products on animals. Since then, they have not released any facts suggesting that they have held up their commitments, but claim they have spent almost $100 million dollars on alternative test routes (“Know What,” Pawprints). When debating whether or not animal testing is a good idea, there are many cases of experiments that have already been conducted, that we can take a look at. For instance, in December of 2004, newspapers across the United States recognized a kitten as being the first cloned-to-order pet in the country. Cell tissue from the 17-year old successor of the kitten, Little Nicky, was “banked” by the owner, so her cat could be cloned. Genetic Savings & Clone, Inc. produced the clone, for the amount of $50,000. To most this would seem like a high price to pay for such a risky pro...