Kristin Newton

12/13/16
Persuasive Essay
Animal Testing

Animals, Abuse Them and You Will Lose Them.

Right now, millions of animals are being held in cages and used as test subjects for

medical research. They sit in loneliness as the pain is spread and their suffering never ends.

They are terrified and exhausted from what scientist’s put them through, just for our own well

being. But, what about the well being of them? These animals are used in chemical, drug, food,

and cosmetic tests, along with medical experiments at universities. Testing dates back first in

the 17th century with William Harvey as he discovered how blood was circulated through the

body. (“History of animal testing”, 2016) Animal testing has lead to a few monumental scientific

breakthroughs, but, in the end animal testing is cruel and inhumane for the research of human

medicine.

Among what some scientists say, not all testing becomes beneficial. According to

Cruelty Free International, “95% of drugs fail in humans after testing on animals.” (“Arguments

against animal testing,” 2016) To put animals through tremendous circumstances just to find out

that all that work was for nothing. The animals then die and their lives unfulfilled. Imagine if that

was you. Took against your will to be pricked, cut, caged, and other unspoken things. Unable to

see your family again, unable to do the things you wanted before you died, how might you feel?

Think about your pets or animals you know. Think about watching them go through this.

Wouldn't you feel heartbroken and wish you could do something to help them?

Through the years the positive percentage has lead to great discoveries in human

health. Some testing has contributed to many life saving cures and treatments. Experiments

involving a dog's pancreas lead to the discovery of insulin, which is crucial for diabetics.

(“Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing?” 2016) In addition “major

advances in understanding and treating conditions such as breast cancer, brain injury,

childhood leukemia, cystic fibrosis, malaria, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, and many others.”
 Kristin Newton
12/13/16
Persuasive Essay
Animal Testing

Among this “the development of pacemakers, cardiac valve substitutes, and anesthetics” was

also a substantial finding on their behalf. (“Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial

Testing?” 2016)

Animals themselves may benefit from the results of animal testing. Think of the medical

health of animals, “If vaccines were not tested on animals, millions of animals would have died

from rabies, distemper, feline leukemia, infectious hepatitis virus, tetanus, anthrax, and canine

parvo virus.” (“Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing?” 2016) Animal

testing has also been instrumental in saving endangered species from extinction. The ability to

treat illnesses, use anesthetic devices, and promote breeding has improved the health and

survival of many species. Through techniques like artificial insemination species that are

endangered can now be managed or maintained. (“How Do Animals Benefit from Animal

Research?” 1991) Some species include the black-footed ferret native to North America, the

California condor and the Golden lion tamarin of Brazil. (“Should Animals Be Used for Scientific

or Commercial Testing?” 2016)

Although these experiments have been helpful in the medical environment, the way the

results are found isn’t ideal. A test used by cosmetic companies called the Draize eye test is an

example. When evaluating the irritation of shampoos and other products, they use a rabbit,

incapacitated with clips holding it’s eyes open, sometimes for multiple days, so they will not blink

while the product is being tested. (“Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial

Testing?” 2016) That is only one of many examples of how these animals are being treated.

These animals are being treated like test dummies, and 95% of them used are not protected by

the Animal Welfare Act. It is the only Federal law in the United States that regulates the

treatment of animals in research and exhibition. The Act was amended eight times (1970, 1976,

1985, 1990, 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2013) (“Animal Welfare Act of 1966”, 2016). The AWA does
 Kristin Newton
12/13/16
Persuasive Essay
Animal Testing

not cover rats, mice, fish and birds, which comprise around 95% of the animals used in

research. (“Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing?” 2016)

There are new alternative methods that can replace the need for animals. Certain tests

can be more carefully examined under microscopes that produce results with human cells

instead of animals. But, even so some computers are inaccurate with such organs like the brain.

Animals and humans are biologically similar. This makes them a reasonable resource for certain

experiments. When you compare their similarities “Chimpanzees share 99% of their DNA with

humans, and mice are 98% genetically similar to humans.” Mammals share the same set of

organs such as heart, kidney, lungs, etc. They are sustainable to many illnesses and conditions

that we humans get. Animals must be used in cases when ethical considerations prevent the

use of human subjects. Certain human volunteers are not legally able to be put in harm's way.

(“Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing?” 2016) Which is reasonable,

but what about the harm of the animals?

This brings me back to the fact that it is just pure inhumane. According to Humane

Society International, animals used in experiments are commonly subjected to force feeding,

forced inhalation, food and water deprivation, prolonged periods of physical restraint, the

infliction of burns and other wounds to study the healing process, the infliction of pain to study

its effects and remedies, and "killing by carbon dioxide asphyxiation, neck-breaking,

decapitation, or other means." (“Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing?”

2016) This is unacceptable. We as humans would never do this kind of thing to each other. And,

if we had we would be put in jail. How is this right for the scientists to not be imprisoned too?

When looking into the costs for these tests you will find that animal tests cost more than

the alternative. For example, “An “unscheduled DNA synthesis” animal test costs $32,000, while

the in vitro alternative costs $11,000. A "rat phototoxicity test" costs $11,500, whereas the non-

animal equivalent costs $1,300, and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) spends $14
 Kristin Newton
12/13/16
Persuasive Essay
Animal Testing

billion of its $31 billion annual budget on animal research.” (“Should Animals Be Used for

Scientific or Commercial Testing?” 2016) Those are just some examples of the cost differences.

There are many ways we can help prevent the use of animals. Some include “buying

cruelty-free products, donating only to charities that don’t experiment on animals, requesting

alternatives to animal dissection in classrooms, and to demand effective non-animal tests to

government agencies and corporations.” (“Animal Testing 101”, 2016) Join an organization to

help speak your voice. If one person a day were to make a stand soon the thought of animal

testing would never exist. You can help improve the lives of abused animals by taking your part

in the movement. Say no to animal testing and help make our world a cruel free place.

Work Cited:

(2016). Animal Testing 101. Retrieved from http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-

experimentation/animal-testing-101/
 Kristin Newton
12/13/16
Persuasive Essay
Animal Testing

(2016, November 12) Animal Welfare Act of 1966. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Welfare_Act_of_1966

Dr. Richard Klausner. Arguments against animal testing.(2016, December 6, date of retrieval)

Retrieved from https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/why-we-do-it/arguments-against-animal-

testing

(2016, November 25) History of animal testing, Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_animal_testing

(1991) How Do Animals Benefit from Animal Research? Science, Medicine, and Animals.

Retrieved from https://www.nap.edu/read/10089/chapter/7

(2016, May 24). Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing? Retrieved from

http://animal-testing.procon.org/