Philosophy of AR > Animal Testing - Index > Anti-Vivisection Index

The Folly of Animal Testing

http://www.covancecampaign.com/science/testimonials.html

Thirty years ago, as a young veterinary student in South Africa, I was exposed to animal experimentation for the first time. And I was sickened by what I saw. Surely, I asked myself, the Good Lord would not make animal torture the only path to medical progress?

This burning question set me on a path to look for answers and to uncover the truth about vivisection.

In fact, the truth is plain for all to see. Animal experimentation is bad science. It is based on 50-year-old laws and 150-year-old science. Animal experiments have never undergone validation studies, and yet government and industry continue to accept animal data for use in human medicine. But you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Today, it is regarded by many - even in the scientific community - as indefensible to conduct more research while existing research has yet to be evaluated. That is a good enough reason to call for a complete and immediate halt to all animal
experiments.

Some research scientists have admitted that they are uneasy about conducting animal experiments. For just such people, it might be useful to perform the following test: before embarking on an experimental procedure, look your laboratory animal squarely in the eyes and ask yourself the question: "would I be doing this if this was my child?"

Andre Menache BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS FRSH

Veterinary Surgeon