All About Animal Experimentation

Vivisection - live testing

 

Testing on live animals is known as ‘vivisection’, which comes from the Latin words vivus, meaning ‘alive’, and sectio, meaning ‘cutting’ [1]. The two main types of testing are basic (investigating biology and human disease) and applied (drug research, toxicity, and safety testing) [2]. When an experiment is conducted on a dead animal, it is known as ‘dissection’. It is claimed that the aim of these experiments is to inform health sciences and biology, and create products that benefit human health and reduce safety concerns. Many scientists, however, are speaking out against animal experimentation, stating that it is ineffective and no longer necessary. 

The most common species used are rats, mice, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, cats, dogs, pigs, monkeys, and farm animals [3]. The exact number of animals used in experiments around the world is unknown, as there are different reporting standards in each country. Cruelty Free International and the Dr Hadwen Trust do monitor the industry, however, and in 2015 estimated that at least 115 million animals were used in laboratories across the globe [4 PDF]. Australia has no national collection or collation system for animal experimentation in place, meaning the number of animals used in laboratories and classrooms is unknown. Humane Research Australia collate the data they can, and estimated that in 2017, over 20 million animals were used in Australia [5].

Genetic engineering (a type of Basic Biomedical Research) refers to the method of manipulating animal genes to remove specific genes or introduce new genes. An animal whose genetic makeup has been modified through genetic engineering is called a transgenic animal [6]. Xenotransplantation, as an example, is where animals are used to ‘grow’ a human organ, which is then transplanted into a human. Despite primates having a more similar genetic makeup to humans, pigs are used to grow organs for people as they are “cheaper”, not protected, and thus more disposable [7].

The use of genetic engineering in the agricultural industry predominantly involves breeding animals for consumption to grow faster and bigger, increasing feed conversion (less food to grow larger), and even producing “more desirable traits” [8]. If we look at farmed animals, we can see that the years of genetic modification have caused a range of health issues and deformities. Farmed turkeys grow so large that their internal organs and legs are unable to support their bodies, and they are unable to mate naturally due to their unnatural physical size. Sheep now require humans to shear them, when naturally they would have shed in summer months. 

Another type of Basic research is psychological research, which studies the behaviours of animals. These tests often study the brain and try to help answer questions about overall functioning and the effect of certain elements [9]. Many of the tests involve making the animals addicted to drugs, giving them anxiety disorders, phobias, urinary incontinence, ruminative vomiting, depression, retrograde amnesia, or schizophrenia [10]. Some examples of tests involve forcing animals to take drugs, isolating them, giving them electric shocks to induce fighting behaviour, food deprivation, and brain damage. Farmed animals are subjected to a range of behavioural experiments in an attempt to make the industry more profitable. Experiments assess confinement and space, impacts of isolation, how much food, water, warmth, light is needed, and if gender impacts their behaviour [11]. 

Applied research on animals involves testing the efficacy of drugs and chemicals to assess toxicity levels and the impacts of ingredients, to give a safety rating [2]. During these experiments, animals are forced to eat or inhale substances, have them rubbed into their eyes, skin, or injected into their bodies. The animals are then monitored and subjected to further testing to assess the results. Most are killed so researchers can see if the ingredients had any impacts on their tissues and organs [12].

From July 1, 2020, a ban commenced in Australia on the use of information from animal testing to prove safety for new cosmetic ingredients manufactured in, or imported into Australia [13]. While this seems like a wonderful step forward, there is a significant loophole in the ban. Only the chemicals intended for use in cosmetics will be affected, with chemicals found in household cleaning products which are also found in many cosmetics not being impacted by the new legislation [14]. This also means that companies can claim they are testing a pain product, for example, and then use that data for cosmetics.

The University of Western Australia, Monash University, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Melbourne all conducted experiments causing traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats and mice by dropping weights, or via invasive procedures to create fluid in the brain, in an attempt to replicate the human condition [15].

All animals used in experiments experience suffering and pain. Animals in laboratories are subjected to stressors and abused in the name of science. Animals are starved, confined, isolated, frightened, denied their natural behaviours, bred to have debilitating diseases (e.g cancer, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis), given electric shocks, are doused in chemicals, have their spinal cords and brains damaged, skin burnt off, are blinded, prodded, injected, given drug addictions, and operated on, all while fully conscious [16, 17].

Alternatives

 

The use of animals in experiments is not only cruel but also ineffective and unreliable [2]. The FDA reports that just 8% of drugs that pass tests on nonhuman animals also supposedly work on humans – meaning 92% of drugs approved for testing in humans fail to receive approval for human use [18].

While humans are animals, and very closely related to certain species, we are biologically different and therefore the results from animal experiments are more often than not unable to be transferred to us. Alternatives to vivisection include using human tissue, cells and organs that are grown in laboratories, medical waste, and research through autopsies, using mechanical models and simulators, epidemiology, and human volunteers participating in controlled studies and clinical trials [19, 20, 21, 22].

Companies are aware of a rise in consumers being against animal testing and have come up with clever marketing strategies to trick the conscientious consumer into believing their products are cruelty-free. These tactics include labels that state the product is not tested on animals, which can often mean that the end product is not tested on animals but the individual ingredients of the product are, or not testing all products on animals, but testing the products that the company is sending to China where testing is mandatory. To avoid this, look out for certified cruelty free and vegan logos on products.

Animal-Friendly Products

Becoming a conscious consumer means we have to go beyond changing what we eat and wear. It means we have to start looking into the other products we regularly purchase because without even knowing it, we could be supporting tests and experiments on monkeys, bunnies, dogs, cats, mice, rats, and even fish! Everything from what we wash our clothes with to skincare, toothpaste, deodorant, and even condoms are tested on these sentient beings. This can be overwhelming to think about, so we’ve put together a super condensed list of the essentials to get you started, where to buy them from, and some tips to help you along the way.

Household Products

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Personal Care

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Where to shop

 

While many products are available in Coles, Woolworths and other local supermarkets, you will find a wider range of products here:

Other Tips

 

Download the Choose Cruelty-Free app – find out whether a brand tests or is vegan while on the go.

Follow PETA for up-to-date lists on cruelty-free companies.

Check the label for the “cruelty free” and “not tested on animals” label, but remember that this does not always mean the products are vegan. 

If we’ve missed something or you have a question, feel free to pop it in the comments below!

Meet Poppy

Written by Poppy’s carer, Mat

“I never thought I would grow to love a rat” my mother said to me one night while Poppy, our rescue rat, nuzzled her head into the crook of my mum’s armpit and began to drift off to sleep.

Poppy spent many nights on the couch with me, scurrying out of her hidey-hole to nibble on some treats before eventually falling unconscious in the front pocket of my hoodie. Her eyes would begin wide open, but would gradually close as I stroked her head with my index finger, just as I would do with the cats and dogs I have previously had in my life. However, life wasn’t always like this for Poppy.

We first rescued her alongside her sister, Clover. Having previously only had dogs and cats, we didn’t know much about rats. We thought the best thing for them would be to leave them alone in their enclosure, as they probably don’t like humans and prefer each other’s company. We cleaned their enclosure every week, and picked them up every now and then, but never gave them the same level of attention we would to a dog or cat.

 It wasn’t until Clover passed away that we felt the need to spend more time with poppy. We would have her on the couch whenever we decided to watch TV, I would let her rest in the hood of my jumper as I worked on university assignments, and we would even let her roam the house freely. After we changed the way we perceived, and therefore treated Poppy, we saw there was so much more depth to her personality than we had ever imagined.

She would run around the house, and once done exploring, she would scratch at my feet to let me know she was ready to be placed In my jumper for a nap. Upon waking, she would nibble on my ear as if to say, “good morning,” and she chattered her teeth together in joy when I stroked her in the right spot. Poppy isn’t around anymore, but she left behind a human who cares about her very much, and has changed his perception of rats forever.

Poppy snuggled up with Matt!

Poppy snuggled up with Matt!

Poppy nuzzled into Mat’s neck.

Poppy nuzzled into Mat’s neck.

Poppy sleeping under the pillows!

Poppy sleeping under the pillows!