The Pros of Continuing Animal Testing Essay Example

that uses animals. Their practices are continually reviewed by local, state, and federal agencies. The approval process for animal experimentation is very thorough and is designed to insure the use of the fewest animals possible and that animals are only used because there is no other choice. Yet a lot of people and groups (such as PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), are against animal research because they feel it is highly unethical. They feel that not only are the animals tortured, but that he tests they are subjected to are more about profits than results, and that the animals are being mistreated even when test are not being performed.

They also claim that the same kind of research and advancements can be made with computers. This way no animals are hurt and answers can still be found. This would be good, but unfortunately, there are still many experiments that cannot be done on animal substitutes like tissue cultures or on computers. These experiments can only be done on either animals or people.

Another argument brought up by animal rights groups is where the animals for the experiments come from.Animals used in experimentation are supplied to laboratories by U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-licensed Class A and/or Class B dealers.

Class A dealers sell "purpose-bred" animals. In other words, the animal was born into this world solely for experimentation. While this does sound cruel, it is much better then Class B animals. Class B dealers supply random source animals purchased at auctions, or are "adopted" from unsuspecting individuals who placed free “to a good home” ads in their local papers, or even

animal shelters.However, many labs will only accept animals from the Class A category (and that’s only if they have the correct paperwork that is used to classify them). Currently, 14 states have passed laws making it illegal for animals in shelters to be sold for research, and it is illegal in all 50 states for stolen animals to be sold or used in research.

In my opinion, while I do think animal research is somewhat unethical, I do feel it is necessary. I whole-heartedly disagree with animal testing for things like cosmetics, but medical research is a different story.Animal research is needed in order to further our knowledge on things such as diseases. I have friends who are members of PETA that absolutely protest any kind of animal research, but I don’t.

For example, imagine that the cure for cancer is found because of test researchers performed on animals. Think of the hundred of thousands of human lives that would be saved in the process. And that’s just by curing one disease. I have had family members die of cancer, and (as inhumane as it sounds) I would be able to deal with animals dying in order for my loved ones (as well as other humans) to live.

However, some people say that no real advancements have been made because of medical research done on animals. This is incorrect. Polio would kill or cripple thousands of unvaccinated children and adults this year, but because a vaccine was found through animal testing, those people are protected from this debilitating disease. Most of the nation's one million insulin-dependent diabetics would not be with us, because insulin was perfected

through animal testing.

Doctors would have no chemotherapy to save the 70% of children who now survive acute lymphocytic leukemia.Plus, many animals have also benefited by animal research. Heartworm medicine that was developed from research on animals has helped countless dogs. Cat nutrition has been better understood through animal research, and has helped cats live longer, healthier lives.

The list of diseases that have been impacted by animal research goes on and on, yet that still isn’t enough justification for some people. Another argument I have is that many animal rights groups, like PETA, make animal research look worse and more inhumane than it actually is.For example, they create many publications that show “cute” animals, such as dogs and cats, being subjected to horrible experiments. However, less than 1 percent of all research performed on animals is performed on dogs and cats.

Also, they present the most graphic and inhumane tests to light in their publications. A picture of an awake dog with the top of it’s skull cut off is enough to make anyone disagree with animal testing, yet tests like this are very rarely performed. Also, I do not agree with some of the tactics those groups use in trying to stop animal testing.Some researchers say that one of the gravest threats to public health and medicine comes from the animal rights movement.

Many national animal rights organizations have targeted scientists who work with animals in medical research. They wage a battle of ethics and have a “financial war chest” worth millions of dollars. These groups spread disinformation about research projects. They can cause delays through protests and add heavy costs to the

acquisition of new scientific knowledge through the legal systems. Some activists have even turned to violence in order to achieve their goals.

This brings up the question, if it’s not okay to hurt animals for research, why is it okay to hurt the people who are trying to help humanity? The animal world is not like a Disney movie. In nature, life in the wild is often very violent and cruel. Life frequently ends in sickness, injury and infection, or being killed and eaten by predators. Also, in nature, there is almost always a pecking order among animals of the same species that is ruthlessly enforced.

These facts of nature are often ignored by the many groups that seem to think that if humans left animals alone, animal suffering would end.Animal research will always be a controversial subject. It has been since it began and it will be until it ends (if it does). And even if animal research does one day help in finding the cure for a disease such as AIDS, people will still have problems.

For now, all we can do is hope that the answers we are looking for can be found. Scientists are doing everything they can in order to find cures to the diseases that are killing humanity. Even though animal research does upset people, it is worth it in the long run.General Purpose: To inform the audience about animal testing and research. Specific Purpose: To inform the audience about the positive aspects of animal testing and research for advancements in medicine.

Thesis: Animal testing is very important in the world of medical research and should continue. Citations "Animal Research

Industry. " StopAnimalTests. com. February 2004. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

15 November 2006. <http://www. stopanimaltests. com/AnimalResearchInd. asp>.

"Animal Testing. " Real Issues: Animal Testing. 2005.The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 15 November 2006. <http://www.

animaland. org/asp/realissues/testing. asp>. Festing, Simon.

“The Animal Research Debate” The Political Quarterly, October 2005, Vol. 76, Issue 4. p 568-572. Rollin, Bernard E. “The Regulation of Animal Research and the Emergence of Animal Ethics: A Conceptual History” Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics, October 2006, Vol.

27, Issue 4, p 285 – 304. Saucier, Donald A. “The Foundations of Attitudes About Animal Research” Ethics & Behavior, April 2006, Vol. 16, Issue 2, p 117-133