8 Facts You Didn't Know About Animal Testing

The subject of testing animals in laboratories is often tossed around in heated conversation and debates. But how much do you really know about what goes on behind the scenes of your makeup products, body wash, and medicine?

1. In the United States alone, over 100 million animals are killed...

in U.S. laboratories for biology lessons, medical training, and food & drug testing. Some of these animals, to name a few, include mice, rats, frogs, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, monkeys, fish, and birds.

2. 95% of animals that are used in labs aren't covered under animal rights laws.

elizabethely.com / Via aldf.org

And for the 5% that are covered, these laws are often overlooked due to the shortage of inspectors compared to the amount of facilities in the United State (120:12,000) which leaves laboratories to get away with force feeding, deprivation of food and water, and the inflicting of burns on innocent animals on a daily basis.

3. Rabbits and dogs are tortured to test new shades of eye makeup.

unleashed.org.au / Via aavs.org

A common test done among cosmetic laboratories in the U.S. is the Draize test which involves applying drops of a substance directly to the eye or skin. The animal, typically a rabbit or dog, is restrained and conscious for the duration of the procedure and is then observed up to 2 weeks. The test is to check for any signs irritations in the skin and eyes, including redness, swelling, discharge, hemorrhaging, and even blindness.

4. The testing of a single pesticide product requires so much more than you'd think...

hsi.org / Via hsi.org

Government regulations sometimes require dozens of different animal-poisoning tests to assess the safety of a single new pesticide to market. Some tests use thousands of animals at a time, while others are repeated two or even three times using different animal species and/or routes of chemical administration (e.g., oral force-feeding, forced inhalation and skin application). This means terrible suffering and death for upwards of 10,000 of rabbits, rodents, birds, fish, and even dogs, for every new pesticide.

5. We can't ensure the effectiveness of human medicines through animals...

musicians4freedom.com / Via vivisectioninformation.com

Scientists argue that in order for us to discover more medicines to ward off various diseases and viruses, we need to test these vaccines and medicines on animals, but these statistics prove otherwise:

- 30 HIV vaccines, 33 spinal cord damage drugs, and over 700 treatments for stroke have been developed in animals. None work in humans.

- 70% of drugs which cause human birth defects are safe in pregnant monkeys.

- Less than 2% of human illnesses are ever seen in animals. Over 98% never affect animals.

Check out this video for more information.

6. You're endorsing it, and don't even know it!

southernnationalist.com / Via peta.org

According to PETA, “The National Institutes allocates 40% of its annual research budget to animal experiments. Based on the NIH’s 2010 budget, this accounts for more than $16 billion in U.S. taxpayer money.” Did you know that your hard-earned money was going towards harmful, unnecessary, and expensive toxicity testing?

7. Alternatives to Animal Testing are proven to be more accurate!

ivt-consulting.com / Via peta.org

An unfortunate common misconception is that people think that testing unstable mass-produced products on animals is the only way, however, little is it know that in vitro testing, computational models, and algorithms are a more accurate and cruelty-free way of testing products. Scientist who subscribe to this method of testing argue that only human cells are accurate test subjects for cures to diseases and viruses such as HIV, cystic fibrosis, and glaucoma.

8. With a few clicks of your mouse, YOU can take action!

With the quick advancements of technology, you can help save the lives of millions of animals by signing this online petition. It takes less than 5 minutes!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi