Amber Fantaci
Prof. Hach
ENG160/12 Research Essay
2 November 2021
The Damage of Animal Experimentation
Imagine being trapped in a cage—the feeling of being restrained. With no freedom, you have no
escape and no choice. This is the life of many animals in our world today. Medical researchers
experiment on innocent animals to assist them in their research. The public is blinded by the
accomplishments made through these tests, such as finding cures for illnesses. However, this criteria does not make animal experimentation acceptable. Animals should not be used for experimental research.
Throughout the years, the type of animal that has been used for experiments has varied: mice,
rats, rabbits, dogs, cats and more. Most of these animals are people’s everyday companions. People
would be devastated to hear that an animal that they live with daily is being treated like this. It is
unethical that labs are harming animals during experiments to find cures for humans. Animals feel pain too; Therefore, it is unfair that we are losing their lives at the expense of saving ours. Most people do not realize how much harm is brought to animals through these experiments. Animal testing has been proven to be negative because: “In 1983, the University of Pennsylvania had 150 baboons suffer from brain damage as a result of hydraulic equipment smashing against the baboons’ heads to simulate whiplash” (Hoagland). This experiment was specifically used to learn about car accidents, and it clearly shows that these experiments take drastic measures. There should be a safer way for medical researchers to further their understanding of medicine, that does not involve suffering of any type or even losing one’s life.
Medical labs capture animals and force them to live in cages. Like any other species, these
animals need to live in their natural environment. Forcing an animal to live in a cage not only affects their physical health, but also their mental health. Elkhoraibi clearly explains, “If a cage contains insufficient nesting material, a mouse cannot build a nest for his security, territory, and
thermoregulatory needs,” even the smallest factors can have a significant impact such as “changing
cages” (Elkhoraibi). These minor stressors can quickly result in emotional stress if the animals are unable to adjust, and medical labs restricts them from being able to manage. In addition, animals are kept away from other animals which can reduce their emotion of happiness. Naturally, animals learn to fend for themselves when they live in the wild. They learn from family and adapt to their environment. Animals learn to find themselves food, and how to take care of themselves. If they are trapped in a cage, they are unable to learn these abilities. Most of the animals are confined in some way, but they should be living in an area that meets their own personal needs.
If researchers keep the animals in cages, they do not have any freedom. It is extremely
unhealthy and unethical for any animal to live this way. Animals should live in the wild, because it is necessary for animals to interact with other species. Animals have the right to live with their own kind. Animals share the same basic emotions that humans do. Surviving alone can cause an animal to go through depression or feel a sense of loneliness. Animals, for example dogs, can show signs of this: “dogs can experience stress related to being separated. They may develop abnormal behaviors such as scratching themselves until they bleed or eating the door” (Ingber). These unfortunate behaviors can affect their chances of survival. Therefore, it is important for animals of any kind to connect with others so that they can remain robust.
Animals feel the same pain that humans do. However, animals do not receive the same respect
that humans do. Animals should be entitled to the same rights of life and liberty as humans. Animals are powerless when it comes to their rights. They are not able to give consent to any sort of testing, which is unfair to animals. They deserve the same respect. Many of these experiments have caused major injuries. Some of these include rapid tests with mice that have caused “several different inflammatory cytokines that most likely resulted in the death of 20% of the mice within the first 48 following infection.” (Enriquez). In addition, 40% of those mice developed illnesses after the experiments (Enriquez). Most of these animals are tormented or even killed through these processes. Medical researchers are testing animals in ways such as hitting their heads and more, thus being the reason for them having brain damage issues (Hoagland).
People that are opposed to this argument believe that experimenting on animals is for the
better. They believe that it has created many accomplishments for us, and barely does any harm to the animals. The people that do not see the truth behind the labs rationalize these tests because they believe it does good. It may benefit humans, but is harming animals in the end.
Animals are a huge factor in our environment. They are family to many people, and it is
unfortunate that animals that we care so much about are being kept in these conditions. In relation to my own personal experience, I would not want these animals harmed. Many families consider these loving animals to be family members. Consequently, people who own pets would be devastated to hear about the tragedies of these animals. Growing up, I have lived with many animals: dogs, rabbits, chickens and more. We would never want to see our animals harmed. We need to respect wild animals. Medical labs should stop using animals as testing objects, and should focus more on keeping our animals alive and content.
Works Cited
“Animal Experimentation: Guide to Critical Analysis” EBSCO Host.com
https://web.s.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=0b15d0b4-4c78-42fe92cc-cd29ee45bce3%40redis. Accessed 15 July 2020.
Elkhoraibi, Carine. “The Mental Health of Lab Animals.” Veterian Key.com. https://veteriankey.com/themental-health-of-laboratory-animals/. Accessed 7 April 2020.
Ingber, Sasha. “Do Animals Get Depressed?” National Geographic.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/121004-animals-depression-healthscience. Accessed 6 October 2012.
Hoagland, George. “Animal Testing is Cruel and Immoral Regardless of the Benefits Associated With It.”
EBSCO Host.com. https://web.s.ebscohost.com/pov/command/detail?vid=3&sid=3b3d07e3-
c999-40b9-ba57-adf32e7c21de%40redis. Accessed 15 July 2020.