For the most part, the human population has only been shown the bad parts of animal experimentation. The PETA organization finds the worst of the worst labs and broadcasts footage of the inhumane treatment of the lab animals. However, what they do not tell you are that there are many humane animal testing facilities (Animal Experimentation: Debatabase – Debate Topics and Debate Motions). These places keep the animals in pristine condition because anything less than the best would compromise the results (About Research). Also, they do not have reason to mistreat the animals. The animals are the ones leading them to great discoveries (HIV Drugs, Vaccines and Animal Testing). Animal testing should stay legal because the animals are treated well, humans benefit greatly from the discoveries, and it would sacrifice a scientific opportunity by not being able to test on beings that are so alike to humans.
There are many humane animal testing facilities (Animal Experimentation: Debatabase – Debate Topics and Debate Motions). Firstly, what reasons do the scientists have to abuse the animals? In fact, many of them actually form bonds with the lab animals (HIV Drugs, Vaccines and Animal Testing). Also, these labs are kept in pristine condition, not only for the animals’ benefit, so that no extra variables are added to the experiments. Having too many variables could sway the results. In the U.K., if any animal is suffering from pain or distress from experimentation, it must be put down immediately. The U.K. and U.S. have many laws and regulations protecting animal rights (About Research).
Also, animal research has led to many new discoveries. The findings from animal experimentation have affected nearly all fields of medicine (About Research). One lab at the University of California San Diego has found evidence on how cancer genes work a new vaccine for malaria, a treatment for lung disorders in premature infants, and many others (The Importance of Animal Research to Medical Discovery). Safety testing accounts for 1 in every 10 animal experiments, whether in cosmetics or medicines (About Research). Without safety testing we would be putting ourselves at risk. The animals can also benefit from animal testing because of veterinary testing, which occurs in 1 out of every 20 experiments. Veterinary animal experimentation has led to the treatment of rabies, anthrax, FIV, tuberculosis, Heartworms, and many others (History of Animal Testing).
Lastly, we would be wasting a valuable scientific opportunity by not being able to test on beings so similar to humans. Humans share 99% of genes with chimpanzees and other primates (Animal Experimentation: Debatabase – Debate Topics and Debate Motions). In fact, humans are primates. However, primates are not used in testing very often. Dogs, cats, and monkeys are used in just 3 out of every 1000 experiments in the U.K. (About Research). Rodents such as mice and rats are more ideal because of their small size, naturally short life span, and abundancy. Their body structure and functions are also very comparable to that of a human (The Importance of Animal Research to Medical Discovery). Considering how alike these animals are to humans, it would be immoral to sacrifice a human life over that of a non-human (Animal Experimentation: Debatabase – Debate Topics and Debate Motions).
In conclusion, PETA has not given us the whole story. There are many reasons to keep animal experimentation legal. Many more people would have died if the lab at UCSD did not discover a treatment for lung disorders in premature infants or a new vaccine for malaria (The Importance of Animal Research to Medical Discovery). There is no reason to take this great scientific opportunity away. It can do a lot of good. There are many new findings waiting to be found through animal research. Therefore, scientific experimentation using animals should continue because there are many humane testing facilities, it has led to many new discoveries, and we would be wasting an important scientific opportunity by not being able to test on beings that are so alike to humans.
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