The Animal Testing and Experimentation Industry

Companies test their products on animals for the benefits of their own profit. Animals are treated harshly during this process. Most product consumers are unaware of the actions these companies are making. People continue to buy these products, probably unaware of the conditions the animals are under. With the revision and production of new items, animals continue to be used for the benefit of these companies.

Animals are often tested for cosmetics, medications, and other daily uses. The animals are handled carelessly when being used for testing.

A source states, In an effort to measure toxic effects, rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and other animals are forced to swallow or inhale massive quantities of a test substance or have a chemical smeared in their eyes or on their skin (Product). These animals undergo multitudes of treatments of many varieties. Some examples of this treatment are, acute toxicity testing, eye and skin irritation/corrosion testing, skin sensitization testing, carcinogenicity testing, and reproductive and developmental toxicity testing.

The animals that are used could face a variety of side effects. A source states, Animals in the highest-dose groups often endure severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, convulsions, seizures, paralysis, or bleeding from the nose, mouth, or genitals before they ultimately die or are killed (Product). Animals are tortured throughout these trials and a majority of them eventually die from the treatments or are killed. Animals are often injected with infections or diseases, and even purposefully blinded just so the experimenters can test multiple procedures on them. Experimenters go through multiple different experiments before they find the cure, if they find a cure.

There are certain laws one must follow if they are planning on using animals during their trials. The Animal Welfare Act states that animals that are used in trials are required proper housing, treatment, veterinary care, food, and water. A source states that, It is the only Federal law in the United States that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers (Animal). If a person seems to be breaking these laws, APHIS may conduct an investigation. United States Department of Agriculture states that,

A Letter of Information is an informal warning letter documenting that AWA noncompliance was found and advising an individual and/or business that more stringent action may be taken if they remain noncompliant. An Official Warning Letter is an official warning of an alleged violation of the AWA. It provides notice to an individual and/or business that the Agency may seek a civil or criminal penalty if noncompliance is found in the future. (Animal).

The most serious consequence you can receive for not abiding by the AWA is a penalty.

There is a multitude of companies that test on animals. Many companies do not test on animals in the United States. L'Or?©al sends their products to other countries like China to do the testing. The following companies pay to have their products animal tested in China: Avon, Benefit, Clinique, Makeup Forever, Maybelline, OPI, and Victoria's Secret. After these companies send their products over, the animals undergo multiple archaic and painful experiments.

Every year in America, over 25 million animals are being used for biomedical experiments, cosmetic experiments, and scientific education. There are a variety of animals used for experiments including: dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, pigs, sheep, monkeys, chimpanzees, etc. The vast majority of the animals include rats, mice, and birds, which are 90%of all the tested animals. Animals are forced to intake substances through inhalation, force feeding, or injection. After the substance has entered the animals body, blood samples are taken to monitor different factors. Some examples of things that are monitored are the rates of absorption, excretion, metabolism, and distribution. Some specific data about the testing of animals included the fact that,

In research and testing, animals are subjected to experiments that can include everything from testing new drugs to infecting with diseases, poisoning for toxicity testing, burning skin, causing brain damage, implanting electrodes into the brain, maiming, blinding, and other painful and invasive procedures. (Animals).

Most of the animals die before the results from the study are concluded. If the animal does survive the study, they are allowed to be killed, with the exception of chimpanzees. While being tested, the animals are held in devices to prevent them from moving,

For example, researchers at several major U.S. universities have all conducted stress experiments on rats and mice. These experiments included immobilizing mice and rats in tubes, shocking their feet, suspending them by their tails, and forcing them to swim to avoid drowning. (Animals).

Many of the lab personnel lack the experience to know when an animal is suffering, or they lack the sensitivity to care. Animals used for testing are hardly ever, or never taken outside to see sunlight. This can cause severe stress in an animal alone, disregarding the other experiments it goes through. A source states,

In 2009, an undercover lab investigation revealed monkeys frantically spinning around and around in their cages, biting open wounds, mutilating themselves, and ripping out their own hair, all because of the chronic psychological distress they must endure. The term used for this is stress-induced psychosis laboratories are literally driving these animals crazy. (Animals).

The conditions the lab personnel put the animals through are dangerous to their mental health, along with their physical health. This alone could skew the results they are looking for.

There are many different organizations taking place to bring awareness to animal cruelty. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 6.5 million members. PETA spreads awareness through public education, animal rescue, special events, protest campaigns, celebrity involvement, legislation, research, and cruelty investigations. The total funding of the PETA organization is $48,468,512. There are many ways to take part in animal cruelty awareness, and it all starts with you.

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