Every year thousands of primates, canines, felines, and other animals endure painful medical procedures and chemical testing (see: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/jan-june12/chimps_05-10.html). It is unconscionable that a species subjugate, torture, and kill other helpless creatures simply to further the quality of their own existence. This is particularly horrific when the animals possess a high degree of intelligence and social skills, such as apes, monkeys, chimpanzees, dogs and pigs. The United States is one of only two countries in the world that permit these atrocities against other living creatures in the name of science and industry.

Humanely taking another animals life for food is one thing. Torturing it with long term captivity, painful operations, burns and chemical cosmetic testing, and trauma experiments is a crime against all humanity. If human beings are truly the highest form of life on our planet, how can we allow this to continue.

The United States must ban all animal testing for any purpose immediately in all 50 states and our protectorates. Let's not rely on the torturing of other defenseless creatures to further are own existence at their expense. Our impact on the planet as a whole is already far too great.

We can start by freeing the 30 year old ape in the PBS documentary referenced above to be allowed to go free in a suitable natural habitat. This creature has suffered far too much for far too long.