ANIMALS IN LABORATORIES

1. Are all animals used in laboratories protected under the Animal Welfare Act?
2. Hasn't animal research been essential to finding cures and doing research on big killers such as AIDS and cancer?
3. Does a student have to dissect?
4. Do the makers of Nalgene water bottles make devices used in animal research?
5. What brands of water bottles is "cruelty-free"?
6. Where can I get information on which household products companies test on animals?
7. What should I do if I witness abuse of animals in the laboratory where I work?

1. Are all animals used in laboratories protected under the Animal Welfare Act?
Absolutely not! The Animal Welfare Act, which is designed to provide minimum protection for animals in laboratories, doesn’t even apply to 99 percent of the animals used in laboratories. Astonishingly, the U.S. government doesn’t consider mice, rats and birds to be “animals” under the language of the law.

2. Hasn’t animal research been essential to finding cures and doing research on big killers such as AIDS and cancer?
Animals do not serve as good models for human beings. Drugs such as thalidomide (linked to severe physical deformities in human infants) and Opren (an arthritis drug that destroys human livers) have no harmful effects on rodents. The differences between the physiologies of all species are just too complex. Forty-six percent of the substances that are carcinogenic in mice are not found to be carcinogenic in rats. Guinea pigs will die when injected with penicillin.

Experiments with animals are often so misleading that they hinder the discovery of effective cures for humans. This was the case with the polio vaccine, the discovery of which was delayed for decades because of misleading experiments on monkeys. Organ transplants, blood transfusions and heart bypass surgeries all had questionable results in dogs; results were successful only when applied to human tissues.

Additionally, animal tests fail 52 percent of the time in predicting human side effects. This type of ineffective testing allowed the tobacco industry to deny for decades the link between smoking and lung cancer because laboratory dogs, monkeys, rabbits and rats placed in smoking chambers would not develop cancer.

3. Does a student have to dissect?
If a student chooses not to dissect in the classroom, chances are he or she will be supported in using alternative learning methods. This depends mostly on the school and teacher.

Classroom alternatives to dissection include computer simulations, plastic models and videos (some interactive). Medical schools are continually developing virtual reality methods of dissections as well.

Support for students desiring not to dissect and the loan of alternative materials for classroom use are provided by the following organizations: the Humane Society of the United States (see Dissection Campaign Packet at http://www.hsus.org/ace/11369 and the Humane Education Loan Program at http://www.hsus.org/ace/11378); National Anti-Vivisection Society; and the American Anti-Vivisection Society (http://www.aavs.org).

4. Do the makers of Nalgene water bottles make devices used in animal research?
Yes! The Nalge-Nunc Corporation, maker of Nalgene water bottles, produces a long list of devices used in animal research. And the company is unapologetically in favor of such practices. (See www.nalgene-outdoor.com/about/whitepaper.html.) For more information, visit www.rmad.org/nalgene.html.

5. What brands of water bottles are “cruelty-free”?
RMAD recommends the GSI Outdoor bottle, which is identical in performance to the Nalgene water bottle and is priced to compete. REI sells GSI bottles. You may also contact GSI directly (at 509-928-9611 or 509-777-1365) to find a retailer near you. RMAD also recommends the Platypus Water Bottle (collapsible plastic) and the Sigg Water Bottle (aluminum with special interior coating that is resistant to juices and alcohol) or a high-quality polycarbonate bottle, all of which are available at most outdoor/camping stores.

6. Where can I get information on which household products companies test on animals?
There are a few database-type resources regarding this matter, but it is difficult to compile a single list of companies that test on animals because the criteria are non-standard. One resource is the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, which produces a list of companies that abide by a “Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals.” This states that the company will not test on animals during any stage of product development. The list can be found online at www.leapingbunny.org/ shopping_guide.htm. Free wallet-sized copies are available.

A book published by the National Anti-Vivisectionist Society (NAVS), Personal Care for People Who Care, uses symbols to indicate whether a given company performs no animal tests, buys ingredients tested on animals, etc. NAVS can be contacted at 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1552, Chicago, IL 60604 or 800-888-NAVS.

The “Guide to Compassionate Shopping” by the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS) can be found online at www.aavs.org/Docs/cruelty.htm. Contact AAVS at 801 Old York Rd. #204, Jenkintown, PA 19046 or 215-887-0816.

7. What should I do if I witness abuse of animals in the laboratory where I work?
Start by going up the chain of command. Speak with your manager; if you get no response, go to his or her superior, and so on. RMAD encourages you to report any incident or abuse to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the minimally protective Animal Welfare Act (AWA). It is important to report all AWA violations because the USDA may be compelled to act only in the event of systemic problems.

The AWA is available online at http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic /legislat/usdaleg1.htm. Generally, the AWA ensures the humane care, handling, treatment, and transportation of animals used in laboratories but does not actually prohibit any experiment, regardless of how painful or useless it is. In addition to labs, the following are also covered under the act: dealers who sell animals to laboratories; animal exhibitors, carriers and intermediate handlers; dog and cat breeders; puppy mills; zoos; circuses; roadside menageries; and transporters of animals. The act excludes retail pet stores, state and county fairs, livestock shows, rodeos, purebred dog and cat shows and “fairs and exhibitions intended to advance agricultural arts and sciences.”

If you think you may have witnessed violations of the Animal Welfare Act, write to the Deputy Administrator, USDA, APHIS, REAC, Federal Building, 6505 Belcrest Rd., Rm. 208, Hyattsville, MD 20782.

• RMAD Home • About Us • Action Alerts • Programs • Support RMAD • Resources • RMAD Store • Contact Us • Calendar • Volunteer • Achievements • FAQ