ANIMAL RESEARCH VS. ANIMAL RIGHTS

Animals have always played an important role in the lives of humans Animals provide basic needs like food, clothing, transportation, labor and companionship US has anticruelty laws to ensure the human treatment of animals Animals used in scientific research are protected by federal law Animals are used because they are the best surrogates for humans in research, their structures are similar to humans, and it is not ethical to use humans in most research

Researchers are always looking for ways to design experiments that don’t use animals The Three R’s: they replace animals used in a scientific procedure, they reduce the number of animals needed, and/or they refine a procedure so animals experience less pain, suffering or discomfort Sometimes necessary to use humans – such as in clinical trials on drugs– to determine the reaction on a whole complex system

Most people are concerned about the welfare of all animals Animal welfare organizations help care for stray and injured animals People who support the animal rights movement do not believe humans should interfere in the lives of animals Some animal rights supporters carry their beliefs to an extreme and do not use animals for food, clothing, pets, companions, zoos, circuses or research

Animal rights movement has affected biomedical research – some groups have used methods such as breaking into labs, causing damage to property, endangering lives, sending threatening letters to researchers, hacking into computer systems Security has had to be increased, taking significant amounts of money away from the important scientific studies these researchers are conducting

Animals rights movement began more than 100 years ago in England Debates over vivisection – cutting live flesh – in both humans and animals Does not accurately describe animal research Groups formed in England and the US as early as 1870s and campaigned for decades to pass laws against the use of animals in research Resurfaced in the 1970s and 80s

1975 book by Peter Singer argued that animal research is morally acceptable only if the benefits to humans or to animals clearly outweigh the harm to animals used in research 1983 book by NCSU professor Tom Regan expressed the view that people as well as many animals are entitled to certain rights simply because they have a basic understanding of the world and what they want out of life. He argues that it is wrong to deprive animals of their basic rights and for humans to use animals to serve their own needs and interests

Some modern groups follow strict vegan diet – a vegetarian diet that also avoids all animal products, including milk and eggs These groups are also against wearing animal fur, hunting foxes and consuming dairy products There are also groups that oppose the use of primates in research

The groups fall into three broad categories: Groups that have the long-term objective of ending animal research and work with scientists to improve the welfare of research animals and help develop alternative, non-animal methods (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)/American counterpart is the ASPCA) Mainstream animal rights and antivivisectionists that actively campaign, but stay within the law Radical groups of activists that are willing to conduct loud and visible demonstrations and commit acts of intimidation, vandalism and major acts of violence

ANIMAL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Founded in 1980 Works primarily on the issues of animals used for experimentation, food, clothing and entertainment Is an international organization with more that 600,000 supporters and an annual budget of more than $16M Generates media attention by staging controversial stunts and by seeking celebrity support Has members who secretly videotape research labs where they are employed

Animal Liberation Front (ALF) Described as “Domestic Terrorists” by the FBI Has committed numerous attacks on biomedical research facilities, ruining equipment, stealing lab animals and destroying months of research Claim responsibility for 67 illegal actions in 2001

Human Society of the United States (HSUS) Promotes animal welfare Have extensive programs and publications that support animal rights Provides training and information to individuals who work in animal shelters Has a relatively positive public image but has published information including “42 Ways to Help Animals in Laboratories”

STRATEGIES USED BY ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS Pamphlets and public demonstrations Internet has proven to be a useful conduit for protesters for hacking as well as communication of information for campaigning and instructions on ways to commit violent acts Micro-targeting that focuses on individual scientists whose animal research projects have been published in scientific journals Economic sabotage – protests, raids, going after investors

ENSURING ANIMAL WELFARE Good science and good animal welfare go hand in hand Using stressed or unhealthy animals could affect the results of research Several laws and regulations govern research with animals – AWA that is enforced by the USDA, 1985 Health Research Extension Act and guidelines stated in the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals”