Yes, pets are used as lab animals for research, education, and testing. Many come from commercial suppliers, but approximately 50% are taken from shelters or purchased from brokers, who obtain them from newspaper/internet ads. One breed that is considered especially desirable as an experimental lab animal is the beagle, due to their reliably friendly nature, small size, and tendency to be long-lived. There are laws in place regarding the humane care of lab animals - regulating housing, ventilation, and sanitation. There are also laws that attempt to address the pain/distress experienced by these animals. But more needs to be done. Both the Humane Society and the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing provide accurate information along with suggestions on how you can make a difference. Take a look at their web sites:
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pets_experiments/
http://caat.jhsph.edu/
No comments:
Post a Comment