Trapped

   
Right now millions of animals are trapped in small, cold cages with no room to stretch out their burned, crippled and shaved bodies. They long to be free, but instead, they wait in agony for the humans to perform their next horrifying procedure on them. Infecting, shocking, burning and killing animals is everyday life for vivisectors. If these atrocious acts were committed outside of laboratories, they would be considered felonies. Animals suffer and die everyday in laboratories with little or no protection.

Ninety two percent of experimental drugs that are safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials, because they are too dangerous or don’t work. I think this is unacceptable, hundreds of animals are tested with this product and it all went to waste when it didn't succeed on the humans. At the end of a test, the animals are killed, normally by asphyxiation, neck breaking or decapitation. If the animals vital organs aren't too damaged at the end of testing they will be killed and given to school biology classes for dissection.

In the year 2000 McNeil Laboratories created an artificial sweetener called Splenda. It was then tested on dogs, rabbits, rats and mice. A total of 12,800 animals died at Huntington Life Sciences. Thirty two beagles were subjected to cages for 52 weeks with Splenda mixed in with their food. Blood and urine samples were frequently collected. At the end of the study they were anesthetized in order to have their throats slit open. Their blood was drained and then they were dissected, so scientists could have a closer examination on their organs.

Over the years rabbits have been used in the eye irritation and skin tests. Developed in the 1940’s, these tests include placing rabbits in full body restraints so they can’t paw at their eyes or rub their backs to release the discomfort. Scientists will drip chemicals into their eyes or they will spread it onto their shaved skin.

In 2011 a survey found that 67% of Americans believe that companies should not test products like cosmetics and dish soap on animals. 60% said that they are more likely to buy a product if it has not been tested on animals. New Zealand also has 80% of the population against cosmetic testing on animals.

I think animal testing is cruel and inhumane. You wouldn't treat your own pet this way so why do it to thousands everyday? Scientists do have alternatives to animal testing like using human cells or tissues, they are also beginning to use human volunteers.

Clare Redden