Introduction

Animal testing, yes, you heard me right, animal testing; is a serious form of animal cruelty and a deeply concerning and non-ethical issue. It is an atrocity that occurs worldwide, forcing animals to endure suffering until a brutal unimaginable death for purposes including cosmetics and fashion. Having these animals getting trapped in small cages is like being in a small room with no windows to the outside world. In our daily lives, we walk past butchers and fashion brands, glimpsing people wearing coats made from animal fur. 

 

The Origins of Animal Testing

The origins of animal testing trace back to ancient civilizations, with the earliest references found in the writings of Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and Erasistratus, in the 2nd and 4th centuries BCE. They experimented with living organisms to better understand their organs and functions according to Britannica. During 500 B.C, vivisections which are surgical procedures conducted on living organisms were a normal method to acquire knowledge of the functions of living organisms. By the 19th century, advancements in medication and science were pushed further leading to significant breakthroughs in medication. During these times, these procedures benefited humans by unlocking insights and various discoveries about living organisms and the development of vaccines but they outweighed animals suffering pain. After all these impacts on humans and animals, is animal testing good or bad?

 

 

Is Animal Testing Good or Bad

Animal testing is complex with positive and negative aspects. On one hand, animal testing has contributed to some significant discoveries in medical science advancements according to Britannica. Researchers and scientists have used animals to learn more about diseases that affect both humans and animals. Animal testing has assisted in ensuring the safety of new medical treatments. If it weren’t for animal testing, medical advancements would have decreased and millions would have died. 

While it’s true that animal testing has helped the medical world, it’s important to consider the ethical conclusion of the suffering of animals. Consequently, over 110 million animals are killed in US laboratories according to PETA. Animal testing is bad both in the medical world and the fashion/beauty industry. Animal testing is bad first in the medical world because although humans often benefit from successful animal research on live animals, do animals benefit from this? The answer is no, every year, animals get secluded in small cages, and then forcefully put on the lab counter to be later stabbed and prodded on, eventually dying from that suffering and pain. Would you willingly endure discomfort while being examined and pressured? Half of the experiments, even ones classified as mild, cause animals to have long physical as well as mental distress and pain according to Humane Society International. 

Animals used for fashion, cosmetics, and beauty all endure a short life expectancy. Each year, millions of animals have a brutal death through slaughter to promote their fashion brands for profit. However, that doesn't stop there sadly, every year thousands if not millions of animals get killed in the fashion and beauty industries. Thousands of animals are bred, trapped, and shot for fashion and beauty products, these are wild animals that deserve wild lives in their natural habitats. Instead, they endure the worst lives possible, with pain and suffering before being slaughtered to make expensive clothes according to Animal Protection UK. All this suffering just to transform them into a coat for somebody to buy to make them a profit. The same response to the beauty industry, while beauty brands put in some questionable ingredients then it’s necessary to test it but not a lot of people volunteer, so beauty brands take animals hostage, like 78% of the top beauty brands according to BAMBAII beauty. The only concern with changing animal testing is it hinders the progress of scientific research.

 

How can we unit to make a change to animal testing?

Animal testing is something we need to stop and make a change to. By all means, it is one of the things like climate change that is turning in the wrong direction. However, specifically, you or everyone can help with many options. In replacement, scientists could use humans as well as computers, mathematics, and simple organisms such as bacteria to help them figure it out, as well as micro-dosing which is to dose a small portion on a human or human trials which test and use humans instead of animals. Now that’s to the side, firstly stick to always buying cruelty-free products, then say no to fur from animals and choose sustainable fashion but if you're generous, make a donation. By utilizing cruelty-free experiments, researchers and scientists can minimize the concerns about animal testing while still advancing scientifically at an average pace. Though there are limited alternatives which are not all that good for scientific advancements, animals can’t suffer and die for the sake of human experiments and clothes/make-up.

 

Conclusion

Animal testing remains to be a contentious issue. On the other hand, it is responsible for significant medical advancements and is often required for the safety purposes of new medication. On the other hand, inequitable reasons and the development of animal suffering have a strong objection. However, as technology advances to the point where there is hope to minimize animal testing and switch to a different future with a more animal-friendly alternative, although the long-term impact of banning animal testing is huge, it releases all the stress off animals and let’s live their lives that they deserve. In conclusion, now you understand if animal testing is good or bad. It might not be intriguing but it’s a massive issue which more countries and people should be aware of and contribute to this objection. However, an example is New Zealand banning animal testing in cosmetics in 2015. Animals are a privilege to have and it's important to respect them. Let’s take immediate action to convert this tragedy before it’s too late. “Until one has loved animals, a part of one’s soul remains awakened” (Anatole France)

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