Among the propaganda of animal rights groups, like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), are such slogans as “Ringling Beats Animals” and “Animals are Not Ours.” One slogan that stands out to me is “Test Tubes Not Bunnies.” Now we all know that PETA firmly opposes animal testing, but in this day and age, it is necessary for the development of safe drugs, medicine and other consumer products.
Of course, almost everyone is against uncalled-for cruelty to animals, but this testing helps pave the way to human testing. There is no reason to test out a drug on a human without knowing what side effects it will cause. The unfortunate reality is that testing on animals is the sole way to make drugs available to consumers.
I am against animals being hurt for no reason, but if there are lives that can be saved by testing out drugs on animals, then I am definitely for that. Organizations like PETA and IDA (In Defense of Animals) exploit the public’s general scientific illiteracy by pointing out the cruel accounts of animal testing, while not explaining the gain that humanity is receiving from these experimentations.
Until researchers can find a more reliable and cost effective way to ensure that drugs are safe for human trials, animal testing should and will remain the best way to test out consumer products.
There are some problems in the animal testing world, as well as successes. For one, those who are carrying out tests badly cause the animals to suffer for no purpose, because the data gathered from these tests are inconstant and erratic. These errors and useless cruelties in experimentation give animal testing the reputation that PETA and others attack it for. Although these errors do occur, all in all testing is done correctly a vast majority of the time.
Without animal testing, we would be without many of the things that we know and love today. For example: medicine, foods and even most cosmetic products. So without animal testing, we would not have the things we know and love today.
— By Tyler White