Posted on August 15, 2010 by: WayCoolDogs

• Tweet

Dog Testing

Dog testing and animal testing in laboratories are just part of the big picture of  non-human animals for scientific experimentation, with an estimation of 50 to 100 million vertebrate animals used for it on an annual global basis. A slightly unregulated field, there are actually larger numbers involved. This includes insects such as flies or worms that are not counted in the statically gathered numbers for data purposes.

The small animal research laboratories are on the rise across our country, with each state having its own rules and regulations for the protection of their own dogs, cats and other animals. Whether the laws are practiced or not depends on the organization and the follow-up by the state. For example, at the University of California at Irvine, the Office of Research has key principles governing the ethical use of animals in research, testing and teaching.

• No animal life is wasted.
• The number of animals used in each project must be the minimum necessary in order to obtain valid and meaningful results.
• The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is required to review the number of animals requested in each protocol and agree the number is appropriately justified. (1)

Outsourcing Overseas Animal Laboratory Overseas

Due to the number of protesters and increasing laws, in 2006 Jehangir S. Pocha’s article, Few Rules and Fewer Protesters Draw Animal Testing to China states that because animal rights groups make it difficult for building or expanding drug companies that are involved with any animal testing laboratories in India, Europe and the United States, the companies are outsourcing their work to China where scientists are cheap and plentiful. Unfortunately, animal-rights protesters are strongly muffled by China´s authoritarian state which results in fewer rules for the protection of the dogs, cats and animals within experimental labs. (2)

There are many issues with sending experimental laboratories to outside countries such as China, Siberia, northern Canada, and Greenland. One example is that they eat dog as an alternative meat source, for emergency meat consumption, and for specific medicinal benefits. China has dog markets involving cages of dogs preparing to be slaughtered in the most inhumane of methods. Dogs are raised specifically for meat and butchered from age six months to a year like we do pork, cattle, sheep and chickens.

The United States has an increasing number of dogs, cats and other animals due to the overload of unwanted dogs and other animals, which is why the laboratories have an ample supply to work with while seeking cures and treatment for the diseases of mankind. For this reason, it is better to keep the animal research laboratories in the United States and European countries. Stronger regulations can be enforced for their protection by governmental laws, protesters, and watch-dog organizations in countries where it is allowed.

Establishing preclinical testing labs in these countries will help the health care industry for newly developing cures and treatments, while maintaining the safety of the animals used in these experimental labs. It could be a win-win situation for everyone concerned if handled correctly. We need to be more concerned about increasing laws for the protection of animals used in labs instead of shutting them down, for the sake of humanity.

Animal Testing and Laboratory Industries

In the year 1948, animal testing in the United States was divided into four regional animal research laboratories: The Western Sheep Breeding Laboratories (Idaho); Regional Animal Disease Laboratory in Alabama; Regional Swine Breeding Laboratory with headquarters (Iowa); and the Regional Poultry Research Laboratory (Michigan). (3)

Another problem is that many animal experimental labs are governmental top secret labs controlled by the government and the military, which is a problem in itself. This location is a long ways from being the quality of pharmaceutical laboratory testing done elsewhere or to develop new perfume or make-up. Yet the common denominator everywhere seems to be the low quality control over the animals involved in animal testing. A bad situation. Unfortunately, it is still better than sending the animals to experimental laboratories in China or another country where no restrictions prevail and the animal’s lives are made much worse.

In the United States, there are growing disciplines regarding biomedical ethics which have to do with laboratory animals. In regard to pharmaceutical companies, university research laboratories, medical programs, governmental programs, and military programs, there seems to be a growing awareness of the moral framework regarding the governing of their attitudes and behavior. As a group, we need to become aware of the combined public and private funding accounted for in the U.S., with over $40 billion dollars of biomedical research practiced on an annual basis.

Picketing with protesters against animal labs is not how to win the war. It makes us no better than the animal abusers. By becoming violent, we do not help the animals. Instead, we force laboratories out of the country into areas with less protective. By making it so difficult these companies will move out of our own country, and believe me they will, is not the answer even though we as a society do believe in out of sight-out of mind. We will see animals becoming massively collected by the general public for much-need money for the poor.

We need to act as the higher hierarchy of humanity that we are by educating ourselves with facts and work with the truth — instead of rage and ignorance. This in itself will generate enough heat to clarify the rights and wrongs of animal experimentation. We need to change archaic laws and protect all levels of life regarding animal experimentation as the main goal. Only then will we see change for the better.

Animal Testing Sources

(1) Office of Research: University of Californian at Irvine. Website used on December 20, 2008– http://www.research.uci.edu/ora/acup/animalnumbers.htm. Recent update on website date: May 12, 2008
2) Pocha, Jehangir S. (2006). International Herald Tribune, the Global Edition of the New York Times. Few rules and fewer protesters draw animal testing to China. Website used on December 20, 2008– http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/27/business/dogs.php . Recent update on article is November 27, 2006.
(3) Journal of Animal Science (1945). Accomplishments of the Regional Animal Research Laboratories . Website used December 20, 2008– http://jas.fass.org/cgi/content/abstract/4/2 . Recent update on article is: J. Anim Sci. 1945. 4:96-97.

______________________________________________________________

MORE CUTE STUFF

_______________________________________________________________

Grandmother’s Corner

A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog.The children started discussing the dog’s duties.

“They use him to keep crowds back,” said one child.

“No,” said another. “He’s just for good luck.”

A third child brought the argument to a close..”They use the dogs,” she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrants.”

_______________________________________________________________

Daily Dog News

“Broken Bond: The Use of Dogs in Laboratory Experiments in the U.S. ” by Crystal Miller Spiegel

Dogs and humans have interacted for roughly 15,000 years, and today in the U.S., we know and identify with dogs perhaps more than any other animal. We refer to dogs as our ‘best friends,’ companions who provide unconditional love, who greet us, tails wagging, at the door, at the end of a long day, and who offer comfort at times when we are alone. We dote on them as we do children. We tell them aloud that we love them and buy toys, treats, clothes, and accessories for them. We celebrate their birthdays and give them gifts.

Yet, every day in the U.S., dogs just like those who share our homes and sleep in our beds are used in harmful and deadly experiments, treated as expendable ‘tools’ or ‘models’ in laboratories. In the U.S. alone, approximately 77,906 dogs were used in or bred for laboratory experiments in 2002, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This reality is hard for many people to accept and is one of the driving forces behind those who share our goal. In fact, even before she founded AAVS in 1883, Caroline Earle White’s first anti-vivisection initiative focused on protecting the dogs under her care at the Philadelphia pound from being taken and used in experiments. (Read More)

________________________________________________________

Daily Dog Tips

10 Simple Things You Can Do To Help Animals in School

1. Say “No” to dissection!

Every student from kindergarten through college has the right to choose an alternative to dissection. By speaking out about this issue, you are taking a stand for the animals as well as expressing your own right to freedom of expression.

2. Say “No” to animal experimentation!

Let your teacher know that you have an ethical objection to animal experimentation in your classroom. There are plenty of alternatives that you can use instead of harming an animal.

3. Voice your objections early!

You must tell your teacher that you have ethical objections to dissection as soon as you are made aware that dissections are part of your coursework.

4. Spread awareness about dissection!

Tell your parents or guardians about your decision. It really makes a difference to have support from others, especially if you are apprehensive about approaching your teacher alone. Talk about dissection with your friends. The more students who object to dissection the more educators will want to explore the possibility of using alternatives to dissection.

5. Start an animal rights group at your school!

Pass out literature on the subject and show a video about the terrible aspects of dissection.

6. Write a letter!

Write a letter to the editor in your school paper and/or your local paper on the subject of dissection to get the word out into your community.

7. Start a petition in support of alternatives to dissection.

Have students, teachers, and/or others sign the petition. Present it to your school administrators and other school officials at a school board meeting.

8. Borrow some of the alternatives from The Science Bank

Make a presentation to the science department or principal at your school. Let them know of the wonderful alternatives to dissection that are available free of charge to schools.

9. Encourage your school to include vegetarian or vegan options in your school cafeteria.

Find out if other students or teachers would also like vegetarian or vegan options. If so, start a petition and present your concerns to school administrators or other school officials.

10. Collect donations

From students, teachers, and administrators, and donate the proceeds to a no-kill shelter in your community.

(Read More)

_________________________________________________________

* * * * *

For more dog health info, dog stories and fun stuff, subscribe to our newsletter here!

* * * * *

(Sponsored)

Related posts:

• Animal Research Laboratories-Pros and Cons
• Part 2-Ugliness of Animal Identity Theft
• Dog Testing for Therapy Dogs
• Part 3-Ugliness of Animal Identity Theft
• Swine Flu Vaccine Reported More Deadly Than The Swine Flu Itself