Cade A.
Animal testing in medical research has been ongoing for hundreds of years, with many praising the new discoveries in medicine and cures for diseases that have come as a result. I am a strong advocate for animal right, however this somewhat conflicts with my view on human rights. The dilemma is how to protect the rights of innocent animals, and at the same time aid in the health, safety, and prosperity of human life. I believe we should not use live animals for testing and medical research purposes.
Few know of the behind the scenes work that goes into experimenting on animals. There have been many stories of horrible acts committed on live animals for the sake of science or medical research. These animals are almost always locked in cages from birth, cut off from interactions with other animals and the outside world, and then subjected to suffering. Little regard is given for what the animal is experiencing. Most of the time these animals that are being tested are not numbed and feel the full pain of what they are experiencing up until death. The ones that do not die from research end up physically impaired and are killed off rather than kept alive. It is difficult to think about an animal being killed as a result of medical research and subsequently being disposed of in the trash like it had no value. While many cures have been obtained from animal research, the amount of deaths and countless trials to obtain such cures are underestimated.
Many scientists will say that conducting experiments on live animals will provide a more “realistic” response. I believe this notion adds to the cruelness of testing on animals. This means the animal has full awareness of the pain it is experiencing with the knowledge that it is helpless in the situation. Humans and animals are fundamentally different on the biological level and it is unrealistic to say that if a test works on an animal, then that same result will be obtained by a human.
An article that came out recently discussed how isolation affects animals that are contained in these facilities. These animals are wracked with depression from being isolated all their lives, and end up suffering until they have been used of their value in medical research. The problem of live animals research is often overlooked in today's society as the world strives for better living conditions. However, I feel very strongly about this topic and I believe that. Live animal testing should be prohibited in all forms.
Animal testing in medical research has been ongoing for hundreds of years, with many praising the new discoveries in medicine and cures for diseases that have come as a result. I am a strong advocate for animal right, however this somewhat conflicts with my view on human rights. The dilemma is how to protect the rights of innocent animals, and at the same time aid in the health, safety, and prosperity of human life. I believe we should not use live animals for testing and medical research purposes.
Few know of the behind the scenes work that goes into experimenting on animals. There have been many stories of horrible acts committed on live animals for the sake of science or medical research. These animals are almost always locked in cages from birth, cut off from interactions with other animals and the outside world, and then subjected to suffering. Little regard is given for what the animal is experiencing. Most of the time these animals that are being tested are not numbed and feel the full pain of what they are experiencing up until death. The ones that do not die from research end up physically impaired and are killed off rather than kept alive. It is difficult to think about an animal being killed as a result of medical research and subsequently being disposed of in the trash like it had no value. While many cures have been obtained from animal research, the amount of deaths and countless trials to obtain such cures are underestimated.
Many scientists will say that conducting experiments on live animals will provide a more “realistic” response. I believe this notion adds to the cruelness of testing on animals. This means the animal has full awareness of the pain it is experiencing with the knowledge that it is helpless in the situation. Humans and animals are fundamentally different on the biological level and it is unrealistic to say that if a test works on an animal, then that same result will be obtained by a human.
An article that came out recently discussed how isolation affects animals that are contained in these facilities. These animals are wracked with depression from being isolated all their lives, and end up suffering until they have been used of their value in medical research. The problem of live animals research is often overlooked in today's society as the world strives for better living conditions. However, I feel very strongly about this topic and I believe that. Live animal testing should be prohibited in all forms.
Jessica L.
When I graduate from UNCW, I plan on attending veterinary school. I want to become a vet because I believe that being a veterinarian is one of the best ways to protect and defend beings who cannot speak for themselves. It is clear to me, that although they are rarely able to convey
their feelings in ways which humans understand, animals are intelligent, sensitive creatures. For that reason, I cannot in good conscience fully support the use of live animals in medical research. However, I do realize that if we ever hope to find a cure for diseases and illnesses which affect so much of our population, in many cases the use of live-animal subjects cannot be avoided.
While I do believe that in instances such as cancer research, or the search for a cure for
HIV/Aids it is necessary to test medications and different forms of therapy on animals. I believe that the use of live animals should be heavily monitored and mandated, and that there should be very specific limitations. I think that rodents can and should be used in research testing when live subjects are required due to their comparably short life spans and high rate of reproduction. Humans have more DNA in common with even a rat than many people realize, so problems with the compatibility of medicines should be minimal. Notwithstanding, it is also important to consider the quality of life that any medical testing subjects would have. For example, chimpanzees require large habitats, interaction with friends and relatives, creative outlets, and much mental stimulation in order to live a healthy life; all of which are requirements which would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a medical research facility to provide. Creatures such as rodents have needs much easier to provide for. Facilities which use live animals as test subjects should be visited at least weekly by a veterinarian or someone who has been trained to recognize signs of sickness and poor conditions, to ensure that the animals are provided with the best possible care and treated with as humanely as possible.
Humans may have drawn the long evolutionary straw as compared to other animals, but that does not give us the right to use and abuse other animals at our leisure. Man was given dominion over the earth, not so that he could violate it and its creatures, but so that he would protect its inhabitants, taking only what he needs to survive, Medical research using live animals is an unfortunate, however, necessary part of living. It is not something that should be taken lightly though, and the utmost care should be taken to ensure that tending to the health of our own species doesn't lead to the needless suffering of another.
When I graduate from UNCW, I plan on attending veterinary school. I want to become a vet because I believe that being a veterinarian is one of the best ways to protect and defend beings who cannot speak for themselves. It is clear to me, that although they are rarely able to convey
their feelings in ways which humans understand, animals are intelligent, sensitive creatures. For that reason, I cannot in good conscience fully support the use of live animals in medical research. However, I do realize that if we ever hope to find a cure for diseases and illnesses which affect so much of our population, in many cases the use of live-animal subjects cannot be avoided.
While I do believe that in instances such as cancer research, or the search for a cure for
HIV/Aids it is necessary to test medications and different forms of therapy on animals. I believe that the use of live animals should be heavily monitored and mandated, and that there should be very specific limitations. I think that rodents can and should be used in research testing when live subjects are required due to their comparably short life spans and high rate of reproduction. Humans have more DNA in common with even a rat than many people realize, so problems with the compatibility of medicines should be minimal. Notwithstanding, it is also important to consider the quality of life that any medical testing subjects would have. For example, chimpanzees require large habitats, interaction with friends and relatives, creative outlets, and much mental stimulation in order to live a healthy life; all of which are requirements which would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a medical research facility to provide. Creatures such as rodents have needs much easier to provide for. Facilities which use live animals as test subjects should be visited at least weekly by a veterinarian or someone who has been trained to recognize signs of sickness and poor conditions, to ensure that the animals are provided with the best possible care and treated with as humanely as possible.
Humans may have drawn the long evolutionary straw as compared to other animals, but that does not give us the right to use and abuse other animals at our leisure. Man was given dominion over the earth, not so that he could violate it and its creatures, but so that he would protect its inhabitants, taking only what he needs to survive, Medical research using live animals is an unfortunate, however, necessary part of living. It is not something that should be taken lightly though, and the utmost care should be taken to ensure that tending to the health of our own species doesn't lead to the needless suffering of another.
Hayley S.
I do not believe live animals should be used in Medical Research and its opposition is growing every day. Animals used in medical research suffer both physically and mentally. Physically, they are being injected with drugs, forced to inhale toxic fumes, receive burns from chemicals and have holes drilled in to their skulls without anesthesia. These animals are confined to barren cages, isolated and psychologically traumatized- especially through watching and hearing other animals going through testing. In most states, if any of these acts were committed outside a laboratory, it would be illegal- so why is it still in practice? Beyond the cruel treatment of these animals, research is costly, and in many cases inapplicable to humans. In 2018, President Trump defunded invasive and deadly dog experimentation at the Department of Veteran Affairs. This movement is part of a bipartisan bill called the PUPPERS Act- to permanently defund these experiments. This came after data showing the costly effects of animal testing. The National Institute of Health spends nearly half their annual budget on animal testing. Although many argue that studying model organisms improves scientists understanding of human biology, no animal model is perfect and there are significant differences between model organisms and humans. In fact, many medicines that pass animal testing fail in humans due to how diseases affect the model organisms differently than they would in humans. The FDA in 2004 estimated that 92% of drugs that pass animal test fail to proceed to market. This number has grown close to 96% in recent years. The data proving its unreliability is irrefutable and other alternatives have come into place with the advancement of technology. In vitro methods (human cells and tissues) and Silico models (advanced computer modeling techniques) have served as ways to reduce the number of animal tests required for screening new drugs. Not only are these methods successful, but they are more cost effective than animal testing. As technology continues to improve, I believe these techniques can replace animal testing.
I do not believe live animals should be used in Medical Research and its opposition is growing every day. Animals used in medical research suffer both physically and mentally. Physically, they are being injected with drugs, forced to inhale toxic fumes, receive burns from chemicals and have holes drilled in to their skulls without anesthesia. These animals are confined to barren cages, isolated and psychologically traumatized- especially through watching and hearing other animals going through testing. In most states, if any of these acts were committed outside a laboratory, it would be illegal- so why is it still in practice? Beyond the cruel treatment of these animals, research is costly, and in many cases inapplicable to humans. In 2018, President Trump defunded invasive and deadly dog experimentation at the Department of Veteran Affairs. This movement is part of a bipartisan bill called the PUPPERS Act- to permanently defund these experiments. This came after data showing the costly effects of animal testing. The National Institute of Health spends nearly half their annual budget on animal testing. Although many argue that studying model organisms improves scientists understanding of human biology, no animal model is perfect and there are significant differences between model organisms and humans. In fact, many medicines that pass animal testing fail in humans due to how diseases affect the model organisms differently than they would in humans. The FDA in 2004 estimated that 92% of drugs that pass animal test fail to proceed to market. This number has grown close to 96% in recent years. The data proving its unreliability is irrefutable and other alternatives have come into place with the advancement of technology. In vitro methods (human cells and tissues) and Silico models (advanced computer modeling techniques) have served as ways to reduce the number of animal tests required for screening new drugs. Not only are these methods successful, but they are more cost effective than animal testing. As technology continues to improve, I believe these techniques can replace animal testing.