Stop Funding Animal Testing!
In the United States, more than 1 million animals are used in laboratory experiments.[i] This number is just an estimate because under current law, labs are not required to disclose data on the animals most commonly used in experiments including mice, rats, birds and fish.[ii] Another unfortunate fact is that any companies that sell products in China are required, under Chinese, law to test products on animals. Animals are used in many different types of testing including biomedical, aeronautic, automotive, military, agricultural, behavioral and cognitive research and in consumer products.[iii] As one could guess, animal testing is an industry filled with horrors. Animals are subjected to painful experiments for long periods of time.[iv]
An effort, called the “three Rs”, was launch in the book “The Principle of Humane Experimental Technique.” The three Rs discussed in the book stand for Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. This term stands for the idea that scientists should test on the least number of animals possible, replace the use of animals with alternative techniques whenever possible and refine the way experiments are carried out to make sure animals suffer as little as possible. While this idea was a good start to bringing about change, it has not been used effectively as is evidence by the large number of animals that are still regularly tested on.
We are now in the year 2020. In modern day society, there are numerous other methods of testing products that are way more effective than testing on animals. Many scientists now believe that in vitro testing (or testing in test tubes rather than in a human or animal) is far superior to animal testing. There is simply no need to continue putting animals through the inhuman practice of animal testing.
After decades of scrutiny and pressure from animal protection groups, the general public, and international communities, in 2015 after decades of scrutiny and pressure there was some progress towards ending animal testing. The National Institute of Health (the steward of medical and behavioral research for the nation) announced the agency would no longer support the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research.[v] Although great progress has been made, there is still a long way to go.
We use Beagles loyal nature against them; Beagles are the most likely to be used in animal testing because they are not likely to bite when they are hurt. Usually these dogs sustain a life of being tested on and are then euthanized. The Beagle Freedom Bill, if adopted federally, would allow these test dogs to be adopted after researchers are done testing on them instead of facing euthanasia. This common-sense legislation has passed and been signed into law in California, Washington, New York, Oregon, Connecticut, Minnesota, Illinois, Nevada, Maryland, Delaware, and Rhode Island. It has now been introduced at the federal level as the Humane Retirement Act by Rep. Kathleen Rice, a Democrat from New York. There is no justifiable reason to prevent this important legislation from becoming federal law. You can send an email to your local representative to support this bill and get it passed in your area. Write to your local representative and learn more about the Beagle Freedom Bill by visiting: https://bfp.org/federal/. Let’s win one for our pets, they deserve it. You can also help by fostering or adopting animals that have been tested on and by giving them a safe place to land after suffering years of abuse.
Consumers can help by researching the products they buy and consume and by choosing to buy from brands and companies that do not test on animals. Some cosmetic companies that do not test on animals are Kylie Beauty products, Fenty beauty, and Drunk Elephant. When browsing for cruelty free products, look for the products that have a bunny logo on the back of them. The bunny logo lets consumers know that the product has not been tested on animals.
References:
For a guide to cruelty free products or brands visit: https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/list-of-cruelty-free-brands/
To stay up to date on new developments made in animal testing follow: Cruelty Free International. As crueltyfreeintl on Instagram and Cruelty Free International on Facebook)
[i] Animals Used in Research. Animal Legal Defense Fund. https://aldf.org/focus_area/animals-used-in-research/.
[ii] Animals Used in Research. Animal Legal Defense Fund. https://aldf.org/focus_area/animals-used-in-research/.
[iii] Animals Used in Research. Animal Legal Defense Fund. https://aldf.org/focus_area/animals-used-in-research/.
[iv] Animals Used in Research. Animal Legal Defense Fund. https://aldf.org/focus_area/animals-used-in-research/.
[v] Animals Used in Research. Animal Legal Defense Fund. https://aldf.org/focus_area/animals-used-in-research/.