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 asadvanced 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.