We should clearly test animals.

Who gives us the right to do this? Uh, Survival of the Fittest. We're the dominant alpha-species for a reason. If we don't continue to push the practical limits of research through testing animals, how will we continue to advance as humans?

We should do everything we could possibly benefit from. Just because it might not be in your moral conscience to test animals, it advances our lives as humans, which is the main goal.

JaQuan out..

I believe that animals should be used ONLY for Medical and Psychological research. Because, it is thanks to experiments on animals that we have extended science thus far. If it weren't for their being a part of it, science wouldn't be as extended as far as it is today. But the thing is that us as humans have taken it to a whole new cruel level. Okay, for Medical, Psychological, and any other kind of research that can help find a cure, or anything that can improve the health of the sick, then it is okay. But, to use animals for cosmetology research is a whole other subject. How does eye shadow not giving you a rash, or mascara not making your eye lashes fall off, or even lipstick not chapping your lips have anything to do with the overall health of the Human population? Nothing at all, make up isn't a need, It's a WANT. Using animals for Cosmological research isn't a need, it's a WANT. Using animals for Medical and Psychological research isn't a want, it's a NEED.

Testing on animals should not be allowed unless it is urgent! Animals are living beings just like us, and almost all of them have feelings, emotions and sense just like us. People feel the need that it is okay to do testing for research on these poor creatures but don't understand that there is a huge problem with this. Unlike humans, animals are unable to express their feelings, which is why humans are continuously running test on them for medical and psychological research. Many animals in research have different biology and behavior patterns then humans and there is only a distant link to humans, which is beneficial in some experiments. Mice, which are commonly tested on, only share about 60% similar genes with humans. So doing test on mice will not accurately get the same results then if it were done on a human. Involving animals, especially chimps, in research these days is not necessary at all because alternatives do exist for example computer models and cell-based research. I do recognize that animals have made a large contribution to modern medicine, but I feel that much of it today is largely unnecessary and immoral. Animal testing today should only take place under strict regulations, while maximizing animal well being and minimizing suffering as much as possibly, only if absolutely necessary. Also, only if the research is applicable to human health or the health of the species being tested on for example testing on cats to cure feline AIDS. Overall I feel like testing on animals is cruel, but in some instances is needed and therefore should not be banned. Of all the cons that there may be, in my opinion there are more pros especially when looking into the medical fields and animal testing’s.

I believe that animals can and should be used in experimentation, at least in some cases. I agree that it is unethical to test unimportant products like shampoo and skin lotion on animals, but for more serious treatments, the advantages are just too great to pass up. Imagine that a new miracle treatment for cancer comes out, but it is untested. Researchers can either do a long and expensive study on humans to test it, or they can quickly test in on animals instead, with much less red tape to cut through from the government. This could expedite the process of approving the treatment with the FDA, get it on the market faster, and potential save millions of lives. I'll admit that animals have some rights, and should not be abused with no reason, but when push comes to shove I still believe that human lives are far more valuable than animal lives, and certain drastic measures must be taken when lives are on the line.

I believe without question that it is humane to use animals in scientific experiments as long as the animal does not have to suffer or feel a large amount or pain in the process. It also depends on the animal and the state that it is in. I believe that only animals that are already ill, or animals that are nuisances such as rats and mice should be the primary supply of animals used for scientific research. Also, if NECESSARY, the dogs and cats at pet shelters who are already going to be put down due to not finding an owner should be used since it would be a better use than just killing them. Most of us have dogs or cats that become close to us and make good companions. The last thing we would want is for our own pets to be cruelly treated by some scientist who is trying to perform some experiment such as the ones in the PETA article where it mentions animals having “skin burned off or their spinal cords crushed.” I feel as if the only time animals should be used is if it is a necessity and done properly. I feel bad for the animals that the PETA article mentions where “76,001 of the animals were subjected to pain without pain relief.” The main reason why I believe that animal research is ok is because some good things do come out of it. Experiments done on monkey’s have helped find treatment for Parkinson’s disease, and vaccines for diseases like polio, the mumps, and hepatitis were found due to testing animals.

But that's not what Quinton's saying. I believe it is a valid reason because he's saying that the animals being used for experiments should just be treated better, such as his example of giving the mouse a companion. At least by doing that, the researcher can at least feel better that he is not completely devastating the mouse's life.

I believe that it is not okay to use animals for medical and psychological research. Approximately 100 million animals die every year due to experiments for chemical, drug, and food testing. These animals include guinea pigs, monkeys, dogs, and cats, which are common household pets in America. Would it be okay if your dog, cat, or hamster was given toxic fumes in order to test a certain product? We are animals, so is it humane to experiment on us? In some ways, animals are similar to us. They have brains and hearts and can feel pain. For example, the bonobo is an animal and he is able to form sentences and show emotion. When the bonobo found out someone was coming to visit him, he became excited. This demonstrates that animals can feel everything that we can, so when scientists give a money toxic fumes, drill a hole into their head or burn there skin, they can feel that pain. I think that some scientist do not even realize that animals are living creatures that can breathe and feel pain, they look at animals as just another small part of their experiment. For me, it is hard to think of the monkeys, dogs, and cats that are dying everyday because of medical research that may or may not help up. If scientist could find a way to experiment on animals without killing them or harming them, I think it would be okay, but until then, I think they should stop testing on animals altogether.

Though it may be wrong, i believe experimentation on animals are a complete necessity, but only when necessary. for it saves lives many times. They experiment with medicines, vaccines, and many other things that are needed for our survival. of coarse, there should be an extent. I dont want any animals to get hurt or die for the sake of a unnecessary cause, i dont want any animals to get hurt at all, but without them, our society wouldnt be the same. So basically, i approve of animal experimentation that has it's limits.

Have fun volunteering yourself.

Some people say that the reason for not using animals in laboratory experiments is that they “feel emotions”. I disagree. A great example of why is the bird. The part of the brain thought to create higher thinking is called the cerebral cortex and birds do not have one, but “what about how birds can bend wire” many people say “that must be proof right?” well, no not at all the part of brain associated with using tools and involved in learning is called the basal ganglia and has nothing to do with emotions. Research is a necessity to human advancement and just because animals can use tools does not mean they can have emotions and should therefore be tested on for the greater good of the world.

I believe that as humans we are the dominant species and for progress, experimentation is necessary. However, I disapprove of testing that causes animals pain or alters their biological functioning in any sort of way. Yes, progress is necessary but not by killing or hurting the weaker species just because we can. It is unethical to test on animals because it is much "cheaper". If scientists can find a way of testing on animals without causing them any sort of pain or discomfort, they should be able to experiment all they want. However, that is not the reality of experimentation. Each year more than a 100 million animals are killed due to testing in laboratories. Also, animals differ in many ways biologically from each other. It is unlikely that experimentation on animals will yield the same result as humans. 91% of drugs tested on animals do not make it to Phase I of testing. Overall, if animals can be caused no pain or harm and yield results that would actually be similar to humans, there should be no problem with testing otherwise it is a waste of innocent lives, time and money.

The ultimate issue being questioned is the compassion for animals verses the compassion for people. I absolutely believe that compassion for people masses compassion for animals. Let’s face it; the average American consumes TWO hundred pounds of meat each year, so why not research animals for our own benefit? By conducting experiments on animals, scientists are able to obtain information that cannot be learned in any other way. Diseases that affect humans often affect other mammals as well. Plants, insects, and other living organism are not ideal for experimentation for medical and psychological research. Other mammals are the ideal subjects for experimentation because they have the closest biological make up compared to human beings. In order for new drugs and surgical techniques to be deemed safe and effective, they must first be tested. Initial testing of new drugs and surgical techniques on humans is simply unethical, so testing animals is the safest way to ensure that these drugs or techniques are fit for a human’s well-being. Plus, most of the animals being used for research are breed in laboratories. Meaning they don’t even know another way of life, but animals have feelings too so limitations should be set when researching animals. Some of these limitations may include; the animal must live in a shelter that is closest to their natural habitat, and should not be tortured or killed intentionally by experiments being conducted. The damaging experiments that many animals are subjected to---help prevent the suffrage of humans and even animals in the future.

As much as I love you humans… I love animals as well. Yes, there may have been instances where the use of animals in experiments has greatly benefited the health of humans; however, this truly is not the case for most of the experiments conducted on these creatures. “The reality is that the majority of animal experiments do not contribute to improving human health, and the value of the role that animal experimentation plays in most medical advances is questionable.” (Animal Experts: Overview, PETA). Artificial diseases which the animals in such labs are exposed to are dissimilar to those natural diseases occurring in humans and whatever results may have been obtained from such experiments do not apply to human medical purposes. Meaning, all of those experiments conducted requiring large amounts of money and barbaric methods of murder on animals are irrelevant to the human health. “Ninety-two percent of drugs—those that have been tested on animals and in vitro—do not make it through Phase 1 of human clinical trials (the initial studies that determine reaction, effectiveness, and side effects of doses of a potential drug).” (Animal Experts: Overview, PETA). Prior to reading any of the articles listed above, my love for animals was just as strong, yet I still questioned whether the use of animals in experiments was significant. I already had knowledge of some of the cruel procedures conducted using animals for research, which was bad enough and depressing… but now that I know that they were either useless or for extraneous purposes, (such as cosmetics, which we already have enough knowledge about), I am highly irritated.

Now I am well informed on the matter, I no longer question it, and I am completely against it. There may be restrictions on certain actions in the labs, but as you know from reading the articles, there clearly aren’t enough. Rules are always broken anyway, so there is no guarantee that animals won’t be traumatized or suffer at all. Regardless of whether or not such experimentations were advantageous to human survival, it is uncivilized. Humans function just as animals do, we are animals, and nevertheless scientists aren’t so willing to place humans in such unpleasant conditions. Why is that? Probably the same reason you wouldn’t cut off the head of your precious dog. Just saying…

As humans, we always try to learn more and discover the reasoning behind things. Therefore, we experiment. However, does the slight hope of receiving answers from testing animals really justify the means of experimentation? The answer is simply no. First of all, people are experimenting on innocent animals that don't have a voice for themselves. I know this is cliché, but put yourself in their shoes.If you were tested on, in sometimes violent ways that could cause sicknesses or even death, and could not express your opinion, how would that make you feel? My guess is that you wouldn't like it very much. No animal would willingly want to be tested upon for research that might not even prove to be helpful. According to Animal Experiments on the Peta website, "The reality is that the majority of animal experiments do not contribute to improving human health, and the value of the role that animal experimentation plays in most medical advances is questionable." If the experimentation doesn't even prove to help human health, then why on earth do we keep experimenting on animals? Will we keep experimenting until we find a solution to all of our health problems? Animal experimentation is not the solution to every human disease or sickness that we come across. The biggest reason is that animals aren't humans and humans are not animals: "Diseases that are artificially induced in animals in a laboratory are never identical to those that occur naturally in human beings. And because animal species differ from one another biologically in many significant ways, it becomes even more unlikely that animal experiments will yield results that will be correctly interpreted and applied to the human condition in a meaningful way." Rather than putting them at risk, why don't we observe them through naturalistic observation as the Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals suggests? It is obviously a much more ethical way to treat the animals without causing any harm to the species.

Get over it

“From antibiotics to blood transfusions, from dialysis to organ transplantation, from vaccinations to chemotherapy, bypass surgery and joint replacement, practically every present-day protocol for the prevention, treatment, cure and control of disease, pain and suffering is based on knowledge attained through research with lab animals” (Pro-Test.org). It is essential to research development that animals are used for experimentation. As listed, an incredible amount of discoveries have been made through the experimentation with animals. I don’t see a problem with running a few tests on a rat to make sure that a new medication won’t be harmful to humans. Yes, there is the possibility of harming the rat. However, in the long run, discovering a cure to a disease is way more important. Saving someone’s life is totally worth inflicting a little temporary pain on a rat. Animals are the most similar organisms to humans, which is why scientists have gotten so far and discovered so many things through experimenting on them. Until a replacement is created or discovered, everyone is just going to have to deal with animals being tested on. Also, human are NOT the only ones that benefit from animal testing. Little do most people realize, animals benefit too. Many vaccinations for common illnesses seen in household pets (such as rabies) have been created through the testing on animals. As a result, your dog, that means so much to you, will live a longer, happier life. Experimenting on animal is imperative for all species to live better lives. Disclaimer: I don’t think dogs nor other important animals should be tested on...just rats and cats.

Humans constantly think of themselves as the Supreme beings of the Earth. We think we are the creatures that should control the fates of other living, breathing, and thinking creatures. Just because we are at the top of the "food chain" does not mean that it is our privilege to decide when and how an animal should suffer or die and especially not for our selfish purposes. Though it is very important for us to be able to survive, thrive and cure ourselves of harmful diseases and psychological illnesses, animals should not be the ones to have to endure pain and suffering for us to enhance our well-being. Not everything that was put on this planet was made just for our selfish needs. Most of these animals that we test on have are able to experience things like feelings and thoughts, which we destroy solely to benefit our species. And though many people believe that animals don't have the mental ability to feel like we do since they do not speak as we do, they actually do indeed have some or even equal amounts of the ability to feel as we do. So isn't it extremely unethical to harm or kill a creature that has some of the same characteristics and emotions as we do? "The thinking, feeling animals who are used in experiments are treated like nothing more than disposable laboratory equipment." said PETA, and they are exactly right. We would never do something so horrible to one another or even to our own pets, who are animals as well, but somehow doing it to other animals on Earth is legal. Well, this needs to change.

I'd rather sacrifice a cat than die of polio

The fact is, you guys need to get past your morals and see what's actually there: we need to put ourselves in the best situation and conditions we can. It's unfortunate that testing on animals is the most effective way to do it, but unless we start cloning or Pokemon become real things, it's an inevitable necessity.

I personally believe that us as members of the animal kingdom we shouldn’t be experimenting on animals. It seems inhuman to experiment on animal knowing that the animals will not be able to communicate if it’s suffering or if the treatment is actually working. Most experiments performed on animals involve starvation, drug addiction, burning, or breaking of the animal’s bones. This is a huge problem since most laws that protect animals only protect certain species for example mammals. Because of the lack regulations many scientist can so what us any means necessary to get the results they wish for putting animals in a huge danger. Though many would argue that is necessary to continue the experimentation of animals so that we can further advance and continue to learn how to adaptive to our environment. This is to say that what we see work for one species will work on us. Some experiments end up being useless because what worked for an animal was unable to work on humans because of the different way their bodies react to bacteria and medicine. This means that one or maybe several animals suffered for no reason what so ever. I personally would only support experiments that use natural observation as there way of collecting data or any other method that doesn’t cause any mental or external harm to the animal. It’s important for us to understand animal’s behaviors so that we can learn to live in harmony with them and protect them. It can also help us learn something about ourselves but we won’t be causing the animal any harm. In order for us humans to prosper we need to learn how to live with other animals in this world so by experimenting on them we our only inflecting pain on the animals that our keeping us alive so that only us, humans can survive.