What is Animal Testing?
Animal testing is a phrase that most people have heard but are perhaps still unsure of exactly what is involved. Whether it is called animal testing, animal experimentation or animal research, it refers to the experimentation carried out on animals. It is used to assess the safety and effectiveness of everything from medication to cosmetics, as well as understanding how the human body works. While supporters believe it is a necessary practice, those opposed to animal testing believe that it involves the torture and Suffering Of Animals.
Understanding Animal Testing
Animal testing is conducted virtually everywhere and its uses are broad. In the UK, standards are quite strict with regards to animal testing and monitoring is similarly rigorous. Animal testing only occurs if there is no other viable alternative to the methods. Animal testing may take place at:- Universities
- Medical schools
- Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
- Military defence establishments
Using Animal Testing
Animal testing is used for countless products and applications. Everything from toiletries to medications have likely been tested on animals at some point prior to their distribution. Some of the products that commonly involve animal testing are:- Cosmetics
- Drugs
- Food additives
- Supplements
- Household products
- Pesticides
- Industrial chemicals
Animal Testing for Medical Treatments
Virtually every available Medical Treatment today has, to some degree, involved animal testing. The animals themselves may be bred specifically for testing or they may be captured in the wild. There are also commercial establishments that sell animals specifically for use in animal testing facilities. Animals are considered to be similar to humans in terms of assessing safety, which means that there are Strict Requirements for testing on animals with regards to new drugs.In the UK, for example, a new drug must have been tested on two different species of live mammal. However, those who are opposed to animal testing and view it as an unnecessary infliction of suffering cite that the stress an animal experiences will impact the accuracy of the results, rendering them useless. For now, however, animal testing is required before drugs and some other products are available for consumer use.
Continued Debate
Animal testing is a controversial subject. Because it is so controversial, the biases that exist on either side can skew the accurate definition of the practice. Those against it would reply that animal testing creates pain and suffering. They would tend to define animal testing as nothing more than animal suffering. Those who support animal testing may define it as experimentation that uses animals to benefit humans, where it saves lives and provides vital medical treatments.Find out More
Read about the history of animal testing in our article Background and History of Animal Testing.
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It is being pointed out many times on this website that animals are similar to humans. Well if that is so, then it speaks even more against the procedures that are being done on millions and millions of animals yearly. If you don't think of it as cruelty to: keep prisoner in cages in tiny (crowded) spaces, force horrible diseases, cut open wounds, inject chemicals, deprived from sleep, food and water etc etc… to be killed in the end for “tests” that over 90% do not serve human biology (yes, read some more scientific information elsewhere)? Sounds fun! If a single human would have to go through any of this, it would be called horribly cruel. You should try it yourself and then speak about it. It is a medieval thinking that humans should face and finally step into the 21st century.
Glorifying this website that is only PRO animal testing is totally ignorant and obviously being used to ease your consciousness (seems some have none) and not searching for more answers elsewhere, shows the low level of empathy and (emotional) intelligence among pretty many people visiting this site. Well, that partially explains why animal tests still exist… Those who write that have a dog and are still for AT, can donate their dog for it, then they might feel what it means. Imagine then millions of innocent animals going daily through this!
For me, very disappointing and one-sided website that is written for one-sided people who don’t want to see the truth except their own. The truth that it is (still) a very profitable machinery of the powerful pharmaceutic industry, might explain why it is still holding strongly to its cruel practices. Times are changing, but those who earn the big buck are of course the ones least interested to change. Maybe you should think about that. Or simply THINK! Not just with your mind, but with your heart as well.
May - 19-Jul @ 2:22 PM
These are my own opinions on animal testing - they are not perfect but they won't be far wrong.Written for the animals.
Humans could be tested on more, slowly and in teensy ways.The public and prisoners can be experimented on (voluntarily), as long as they want to and are able to consent to it.They would need good rewards, and do so only at a small risk.People could be paid to be tested on instead of putting money into expensive animal maintenance.
A lot of people get cancer these days, and some experimenters say that it becomes a matter of 'mouse cancer' to deal with, not human cancer.Animal tests are inaccurate in order to account for human ones.Not caring for an animal means not caring for a human.
Computers in animation sounds like amazing new technology, it must be that the animal's senses and everything is recorded on the screen. They could invent a computer animal/human. Computer wizards need to be working on this new technology 24/7 and brainstorming, as we speak.Make a human robot with feelings someone!
My knowledge nowadays of Pavlov's dog is that it had something implanted into its jaw, sounds like a mean animal experiment.
We could all catch a mutating disease perhaps from the animals as they could live in dirty laboratories.I have seen footage of testers without gloves on when handling animals, and so then they touch the ingredients, and so on.
Testers inject awful human diseases into animals and animals don't get these kind of diseases.
They will stop animal testing in cosmetics, it is a question of when. Animal testing for food and drugs is next hopefully.
The public want this stopped effective, immediately, and then the new ideas will spring forth.
It is better to give 'animal test' a new name of 'animal abuse'.
Chemicals for me are annoying, I like natural ingredients, that is the way of the future.
For the animals - 20-Nov @ 4:31 AM
Hey so i have a problem. Our school supports Jeans for Genes and we do lots of charity work. I'm a huge believer in no animal testing and I was researching about Jeans for Genes and apparently they use animal testing. I know its morally wrong but Im inclined to just let it go and go ahead promoting it but idk......
aaaaa - 22-Jul @ 3:06 PM
Thanks!!!!!!! i am doing a assignment on Animal Testing in HASS (Humanties And Soacial Studies) i am in the top extended class for it and this website gave me all the steps for doing this project onec again THANKs!!
Eazy - 31-May @ 2:37 AM
I love this site I was doing a project on animal testing and I foundthis site it gave me all the info I needed
Jot - 11-Jan @ 2:08 PM
Hi. I'm a kid from an Australian school. I was asked to do a project on animal cruelty and theme I found out all this info. Wow! It's just cruelty!
RiantheNerd - 15-Apr @ 3:50 AM
I love this site helping me with my school,work thanks
Trap trap trap - 17-Feb @ 5:54 PM
Some animal testing really cannot be justified at all!
TC - 28-Jan @ 11:07 AM
What about the horrible suffering animals go through with some of these experiments? They don't have a say because they can't speak for themselves, why don't we test on babies?? They cannot speak just like animals. There's basically no difference but people would think of it to be horrible because its a child that cant speak for itself. Same goes with animals don't you think?
Someone - 19-Nov @ 3:43 AM
@interested. There is lots of information on this website, giving impartial details about all aspects of animal testing. Check out each of the categories first to scan through the lists of articles. Keep an eye for topics in the news and the media as this is a subject which can be emotive and controversial.
AboutAnimalTesting - 14-Oct @ 11:59 AM
I would really love to know more about this subject.Can you help?
Interested - 13-Oct @ 7:10 PM
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Re: Using Animals for Testing: Pros Versus Cons
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Re: What Happens to Animals After Testing?
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Re: Who Performs Animal Testing?
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Re: What Happens to Animals After Testing?
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Re: Animal Testing in the United States
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