Cons+1

Everyday animals are tested on by cosmetics, household products and new drugs. These tests harm and sometimes kill the animals. The one question many ask is “why”? Why hurt these animals when there are other methods to test drugs and other products that are more humane. “New research methods such as computer models, cell cultures, and human studies are more accurate, less expensive, and much more humane.” (peta.org, par. 2, line 7). What these tests do, or how they help but it is quite straight forward and animal free. “The added benefit of using cell cultures is that any vaccines from cell cultures are in a form that is particularly pure compared to one derived directly from the animal. This means that the usual safety testing that must occur on the vaccines can essentially be bypassed.” (“New Technologies as Alternatives to Animal Testing” par. 4) Another substitute for animals, which can be used to show the effect of chemicals or treatments on the skin, involves using synthetic membranes to test the products on (“New Technologies as Alternatives to Animal Testing” par.2). The Humane Society of the United States says “We are working on a national and global level to promote greater reliance on available alternative testing methods, and are actively supporting a landmark call by the US National Research Council for fundamental changes to the way product testing is conducted—to move from animal tests that are decades old, costly, slow and of dubious relevance to people, to ultra-modern, efficient and human-relevant non-animal methods.” (“Animal Testing” par.3) If companies all over the US and the world, used these alternative methods, millions of animals lives could be saved each year.