Grand Essayists Awards
10th Grade Student
Council Rock High School North
Newtown, PA
The Truth About Animal Research
Animal research is a very controversial topic that is disputed
between many scientists and animal activists. Scientists argue that animal
research is necessary because it helps them develop medication, vaccines, or new
procedures to treat or prevent diseases for both humans and animals. Animal
activists, on the other hand, argue that animal testing is cruel and inhumane
because the animals suffer for the sole benefit of another species. This group of
people does not know the truth about animal research and the scientists involved
with it. They need to be educated about the real facts of animal testing: Animals
involved in animal testing are treated fairly, animal research and testing benefits
both humans and animals, and the doctors performing the research really do care
about the animals. If the world listened to the real facts, not the myths, about
animal testing, then scientists would be able to make much more progress with
their research.
Contrary to the many preconceived notions about animal research, the
animals involved in the experiments are not tortured or in pain. Animals involved
with animal research are almost never in agony because "fifty-seven percent of all
research procedures with animals involved no more than slight or momentary pain
or distress" ("Fact" 9). It is essential that these animals are treated fairly because
well-treated animals provide reliable scientific results. If an animal is in pain or
distress, then that will affect how the animal responds to the medication being
tested. Also, each animal research institution must establish a committee that
includes a veterinarian and outside members of the public. This committee
examines and supervises every experiment to confirm that each animal is treated
with optimal care. There are also federal laws, such as the Public Health
Service Act and the Animal Welfare Act, which "regulate the alleviation and
elimination of pain" ("Frequently" 1) and also monitor certain aspects of animal
care such as "caging, feeding, exercise of dogs, and the psychological well-being
of primates" (1). These laws prevent scientists from intentionally neglecting any
of the animals that are involved with the research being done. The scientists are
privileged to work with the animals in the first place. Therefore, it is highly
unlikely that they would abuse this privilege by intentionally harming any animal.
Animal research has helped with the development of many medications and
vaccines that have helped both humans and animals. Even animal activists cannot argue
this fact: Almost every advancement in the medical world has in some way depended on
animal research. For humans, animal research has increased the average American life
span by almost thirty years. The Foundation for Biomedical Research says, "Our best
hope for developing preventions, treatments and cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's,
AIDS and cancer will also involve biomedical research using animals" ("Frequently" 2).
Animal research has also helped with the development of vaccines for common diseases
that were once endemic. Some of these common vaccines are for polio, rubella, mumps,
measles, tetanus, and influenza. For animals, the creation of vaccines for rabies,
parvovirus, anthrax, tetanus, distemper, infectious hepatitis, and feline leukemia has
improved their lives dramatically. Animal research is helping to create new treatments for
heart disease, glaucoma, cancer, hip dysplasia, and traumatic injuries of animals. The
developments made by animal research are also helping to preserve endangered species
through advanced reproductive techniques ("Proud" 4). Animal research is extremely
beneficial for both humans and animals, and without it medical treatment would not be as
advanced as it is today.
Doctors involved with animal research are being wrongly judged as people who
do not care about the welfare of animals. On the contrary, doctors who perform animal
research really do care about the animals with which they work. They are doing these
experiments to help the animals also. Many people believe they are exploiting animals
in order to exclusively benefit another species--the human race. This is false given that
the doctors are performing the research for not only the benefit of humans, but
also for animals. There is also another preconceived notion that doctors could be
performing their experiments with computer models and cell cultures. This is also false
seeing as although computer models and cell cultures can help us gain some
information about the living systems of animals and humans, the final test has to be
done in a living system. The Foundation for Biomedical Research says, "Even the most
sophisticated technology cannot mimic the complicated interactions among cells,
tissues, and organs that occur in humans and animals" ("Frequently" 2). All of these
myths debase the doctors involved with animal research. Instead of spreading myths
about animal research doctors, the world should be spreading the true facts.
Animal research is extremely important due to its innumerable contributions to
the medical world. It has saved millions of human and animal lives through the creation
of safe and effective vaccines, medication, and procedures to treat many of the diseases,
that at one time plagued our world. Although many animal activists protest that animal
research is cruel and inhumane, they could not be more mistaken. Animal research
does not exploit and harm animals. On the contrary, it protects and benefits them.
Doctors would be able to receive more funding and assistance if everyone supported
animal research. This could lead to even more breakthroughs in medicine for humans
and animals. If it were possible to save even more lives through animal research,
shouldn't everyone support this humane cause?
Works Consulted
"Fact vs. Myth." Foundation for Biomedical Research. 2006.
"Frequently Asked Questions About Animal Research." Foundation for
Biomedical Research.
"Proud Achievements of Animal Research." Foundation for Biomedical Research. 2006.
"Questions People Ask About Animals in Research." The American Physiological
Society. 2001.
"Use of Animals in Biomedical Research: Understanding the Issues."
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.
10th Grade Student
Council Rock High School North
Newtown, PA
Lifesaving Animals in Research
Scientists are working hard to find ways to eliminate diseases and
create lifesaving surgical procedures by humanely using animals in biomedical
research. Using animals for medical studies however, is wrongly looked down on
as cruel and inhumane. The people who believe false accusations and unfairly
judge the practice are missing the facts that biomedical research is far from crazy
scientists senselessly murdering animals. Biomedical research is absolutely
necessary and can be thanked for many vaccines which have quieted diseases that
once killed millions of both humans and animals. Through biomedical research,
animals have helped us to create a healthier world in which humans and animals
benefit from lifesaving work.
Biomedical research has been accused of killing millions of animals and
treating them cruelly, but this allegation could not be further from the truth. The
animals receive top quality care and are treated with the utmost respect. The
Animal Welfare Act, created in 1966, set forth rules and regulations on how to
deal with animals in research. It demands that all animals receive "adequate, food,
living space, and veterinary attention" ("Questions" 3). In addition to this, animals
must also be housed in clean and properly lit buildings. Dogs are required to
receive exercise and primates are to be kept psychologically happy. Failure to
comply with the regulations results in steep fines and even closure of a facility.
Researchers will administer pain killers or anesthesia, although many experiments
cause little to no pain. A scientist's first concern while experimenting is an
animal's health, and researchers fully believe that there is no justification for
inhumane treatment. A stressed or hurt animal can change results and
make them invalid; therefore, the animal is provided with the best quality care
because good health is an absolute priority when experimenting ("Fact" 8). Laws
and regulations on animal
welfare have been established and strictly followed by researchers to achieve their
biggest goal: Healthy animals, who give reliable results, lead to the creation of lifesaving
drugs.
The use of animals in biomedical research has been unfairly judged by many
animal activists who are ignorant of the facts surrounding the industry. The myth of
scientists as cruel individuals has been fabricated by many animal activist groups
("Fact" 8). Why would the people, who were motivated by their desire to alleviate
pain and suffering in the first place, purposely cause unnecessary harm to the animals
who help to achieve that goal? Animal activist groups feel that no animal
should be used in biomedical research and have gone to extreme lengths by
breaking in to laboratories, stealing animals, and destroying years worth of data. It is
these radical groups, not the biomedical industry, who destroy research and
ultimately cause the suffering to the people and animals because vaccines are not
administered ("Use" 3). Gross exaggerations made by activists include the myth that
millions of pets are stolen and placed in laboratories. Scientists have no interest in
using family pets and acquire most of their animals from a licensed breeder or in
some states, not including Pennsylvania, a pound. Millions of cats and dogs waste
away in shelters every year, but biomedical research offers a way for their lives to be
beneficial to everyone ("Fact" 6). Some argue that animals are not needed if
options like computer programs and cell cultures are available to observe chemical
reactions: "But the body's organs and systems interact in sophisticated ways"
("Questions 3"). Although these simple replacements provide valuable information,
they are not enough for scientists to fully comprehend the complexity of the reactions
that occur in the body. The biomedical industry is under attack from exaggerated
claims made by animal activist, but the real facts prove how important the research is
for saving lives.
Biomedical research can be thanked for the millions of lives saved from the
vaccines and procedures created. Animals used in research have made special
contributions to the medical world, especially dogs, cats, monkeys, and rodents. Dogs
have been particularly helpful in developing surgeries such as coronary bypass surgery,
pacemaker implantation, heart valve insertion, and angioplasty because of the similarities
between the human and the canine cardiovascular system. Brain and hearing disorders
have been researched through cats, and non-human primates have helped scientists
understand some of today's life-threatening diseases including malaria, AIDS, heart
disease, and cancer ("Use" 2). Not only has this research benefited humans, but also has
helped to create a vaccine called the parvovirus vaccine, which has saved thousands of
dog's lives ("Proud" 3). The hard work that has been accomplished through
using animals in research has helped to create a healthier world.
Biomedical research is under attack by false claims that have defaced the industry
and activists have ignored the miracle advances that have come from many scientists hard
work. These misconceptions have taken away from the fact that the research helps to save
lives everyday. Scientists have created miracle drugs and procedures, and they treat the
animals that help to achieve this goal with the highest care and respect as possible. After
seeing all the accomplishments which have come out of the animals being researched, it
is clear that the biomedical industry is a crucial part of today's world - a world that maybe
one day will live without worry of disease because of these lifesaving animals.
Works Consulted
"Fact vs. Myth." Foundation for Biomedical Research. 2006.
"Frequently Asked Questions About Animal Research." Foundation for
Biomedical Research.
"Proud Achievements of Animal Research." Foundation for Biomedical Research. 2006.
"Questions People Ask About Animals in Research." The American Physiological
Society. 2001.
"Use of Animals in Biomedical Research: Understanding the Issues." American
Association for Laboratory Animal Science.