Animal Research vs. Animal Rights Unit 3-2

Alternative Methods Researchers are always looking for ways to design experiments that don’t use animals. Alternative scientific methods accomplish one or more of the “Three R’s” 1. Replace animals used in a procedure 2. Reduce the number of animals 3. Refine a procedure so the animals experience less pain, suffering or discomfort.

Animal Welfare and Animal rights People who support the animal rights movement do not believe it is appropriate for humans to interfere with the lives of animals. They place an equal value on human life and animal life. Some go to the extreme and reject any use of animals by humans for food, clothing, work, pets or zoos and circuses. Extreme Animal Rights Groups have gone as far as to damage property and endanger the lives of researchers and the lab animals

Animal welfare vs animal rights Animal Right Activist point to two books that helped build the foundation for the modern movement. In 1975, Australian philosopher Peter Singer’s book, “Animal Liberation” argued that animal research is morally acceptable only if the benefits to humans or to the animals clearly outweigh the harm to the animals used in the research. People who place the interests of humans over that of animals are guilty of “speciesism”, human intolerance or discrimination.

Animal research vs animal rights NC State University philosophy professor Tom Regan wrote a book in 1983 titled “A Case for Animal Rights” Regan believes that animals have rights too He believes that it is wrong to deprive animals of their basic rights and for humans to use animals to serve their own needs and interest.

Animal Right groups The Royal Society for the Prevention or Cruelty to Animals. (RSPCA) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) have the long term objective of ending animal research, but they realize it will not happen in the short run/ They will work with scientists to improve the welfare of research animals and help develop alternative, non-animal methods.

Animal right groups Best known and most radical animal rights organizations in the U.S. are the people for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) “Domestic terrorism” is the term used by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to describe the tactics of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and a closely allied organization known as the Earth Liberation Front (ELA). These groups were responsible for breaking into research facilities, stealing the research animals and even bombing the New Mexico Coulston Foundation (a private primate research facility)

Provides training and information to animal shelters Animal rights group The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) promote animal welfare and animal rights Provides training and information to animal shelters Maintains a website for animal rights activist on ways to help animals in laboratories. www.hsus.org

Strategies Used by animal rights groups *The internet has been used for protesters to rummage through files, alter the web site and create viruses. *The internet also provides an important communications tool for animal rights activists, making it possible for a single person or a small local group to create instantaneous and worldwide campaigns against selected targets. *Activists Web sites also offer guides for effective campaigning and even instructions on ways to commit violent attacks. *Some sites even carry an “enemies list” of researchers that include home address/phone #.

Strategies: “Microtargeting” is another common tactic that focuses on individual scientists whose animal research projects have been published in scientific journals. First a polite letter is sent to the researcher, but then they become more and more threatening. Scientists may receive “visits” at home, their children’s schools are being picketed, their tires are slashed, windows broken, etc. Economic sabotage is when an animal rights group puts their focus on a particular breeder to put them out of business

Laws and regulations that govern research with animals The Federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the key law. Regulates the use of dogs, cats, primates, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits and farm animals in research in every facility in the country that uses animals. They require animals to be provided with adequate food and water, and appropriate living space, and require all proposals to use animals be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for enforcing this law..