by Aran M

Created on: August 04, 2009   Last Updated: September 10, 2009

Animal testing, animal research or vivisection is probably one of the most controversial subjects around. Many people now know how animals are kept in baron, tiny cages and are subjected to painful tests for things as diverse as household products, GMOs and medical drugs. Because of countless undercover investigations inside labs we know that abuse is routine in these places and that we would never want any animal we know to end up in one.

We hear the animal researcher state that 'there tests cause no pain' but we know that if these tests were as harmless as they make out they wouldn't need a licence that allows the infliction of 'pain, suffering or lasting harm'. We see the videos of puppies being punched in the face, kittens with their eyes shut and monkeys with electrodes implanted in their skulls.

But many of us see it as a necessary evil, we close our eyes and pretend it just isn't happening because we are told it is a choice between our love ones lives and the lives of cats and rats. We unquestioningly accept the public relations message of the very corporations that profit from animal testing and assume they only have our best interests at heart.

The truth is animal research actually puts human lives at risk. Data from other species cannot be accurately applied to human beings. Animal testing provides us with a lot of data on how a cat, non-human primate or rat will react to a given drug but it doesn't give you data about how that drug will react across the species barrier.

Some scientists see animal testing as so misleading that they equate it with flipping a coin in terms of its accuracy. But what is most worrying is the fact animal testing has never been properly evaluated so claims that results obtained from it are relevant to humans is simply dogmatic belief. Whenever an evaluation is suggested pro-animal testing groups oppose such plans. If they care about human health what is there to oppose in the evaluation of a testing methods accuracy?

Companies use animal testing as an insurance program, if people die or are harmed as a result of their product, as is often the case, the company can avoid liability by saying they conducted the relevant animal tests.

There is increasing concern about animal testing from a human health perspective groups such as The Safer Medicines Campaign and Americans for Medical Advancement argue against animal testing on scientific grounds. Animal testing is not only bad for animals, it's bad for people too. The only thing its good for is the profits of the exploitative corporations that rely on it.

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