Animal Testing

                                                       Testing on Animals Should be Decreased

In today's society, we know animal testing is wrong. In a situation where someone approaches you and tells you how good animal testing is, you would most likely think they are insane. In reality most of the things you buy are tested on animals(see picture for all companies that do and do not). Most tests on animals are conducted in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, and The U.S. (full list on the Humane Society International's website). According to Understanding Animal Research, most tests are flawed. They indicate that nine out of ten drug tests on animals fail each year. Although there have been many life saving cures and treatments through animal testing, many animals have suffered cruel and inhumane treatment during these tests.

Let's say you created a company that sold air fresheners. In order to sell your product in China, you have to test on animals. It is bizarre how the laws are different and its impact on animal testing throughout the world. The U.S. tests and kills animals just as much as other countries do. Each year more than 100 million animals are tested on and eventually killed in labs and in "clinics." Even though recently many countries have decreased their testing on animals, they still test on animals.

Let's say you bought medicine for your back pain and the side effects gave you other health problems. This is common in drugs because nine out of ten drug tests are flawed. This is not only hurting you, but the animal subjects lives were just killed for no reason. In an undercover investigation by PETA, the lab workers were testing on dogs. In one test, they put a dog in a cage filled with worms. Thus, leaving the dog with bloody feces, worm infestations, oozing sores, abscessed teeth, hematomas which are a swelling of clotted blood within the tissues, pus and the dog did not have an adequate veterinary examination. Not to mention the test was unnecessary and for malicious intent from the workers. As technology grows, there will be better alternatives. Also, this will reduce the amount of animals being tortured and abused during tests.

Most common animals that are tested on include mice, fish, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, farm animals, birds, cats, dogs, mini-pigs, monkeys, and in some cases, chimpanzees are tested on. On YouTube, Lush made a video on animal abuse, except the subject was not an animal, it was a human. This made many eyes go huge when people from London, England saw this in front of them. The model who played the animal's role showed pain and fear in her expression and when each test was conducted. They also showed the model being dumped on the side of the rode after the test. Neavs.org states that scientists are validating using three-dimensional human skin equivalent systems such as EpiDerm and SkinEthic.

Thus animal testing is cruel and inhumane because they test so much, tests are nine out of ten times flawed and because many animals are tested on. Though testing has reduced deaths with many life saving cures and treatments such as cancers, HIV/AIDS, Heart Disease/Stroke, Diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, Hepatitis C, Birth Defects, Bioterrorism Medical Countermeasures, Epilepsy, Spinal Cord Injuries, Cystic Fibrosis, testing should be done for the right reasons. And by buying products that test on animals for no reason, you are also supporting the labs and "clinics" where testing is conducted. 

Australia

Petitioning the government to introduce a national ban on cosmetics animal testing.

Brazil

São Paulo cosmetics animal testing ban in January 2014; national ban under discussion; national guidelines revised to increase acceptance of non-animal test methods.

Canada

Worked with Government to introduce the Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act to ban cosmetics animal testing and the marketing of newly animal-tested cosmetics.

China

Regulations changed to end animal testing requirements for cosmetics manufactured in China (we're now working to end post-market animal testing as well).

India

National cosmetics animal testing ban in June 2013, and an import ban effective November 2014.

Japan

Initiated a high-level dialogue with political, regulatory and corporate stakeholders toward a national testing ban.

New Zealand

National cosmetics animal testing ban passed in March 2015.

Russia

Bill launched to require non-animal alternative tests for cosmetics where available.

South Korea

$155 million government commitment to build national alternative testing center; bill passed to require non-animal alternative tests for cosmetics in some circumstances.

Taiwan

Worked with politicians to launch bill to ban cosmetics animal testing and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.

United States

Leading efforts to support the Humane Cosmetics Act that will phase-out animal testing and prohibit the import of animal tested cosmetics.