Should animals be used for research?

Animal testing is a very debatable topic, but I think in our class we have only had the mindset that animal testing is bad and I just want to explain the positives and the need for animal testing. Although many people probably come to the conclusion that animal testing is only for humans and our benefit, thats just false. The research done from animal testing helps both animals and humans. Let me explain, if your family pet gets sick and needs a vaccine for something then how are we going to give them one if theres been no testing on it?  The foundation for Biomedical research said this. "But without it, the prognosis for millions of animals would be simple—they would develop diseases or contract viruses that would be untreatable, they would suffer, and eventually they would die."  it also said that animals and humans share around 50 of the same diseases and 100 medications. Of course this testing isn't going to be the most fun thing but its necessary and there are ways to lessen the suffering. In another website called your genome.org explains the stuff they try to do to prevent the suffering.

"To help minimise the harm animals may experience while being studied in the laboratory, researchers are required to follow a set of principles, the ‘three Rs’. These are:

• Replace: Replacing, where possible, experiments using animals with alternative techniques such as cell culture, computer modelling or human volunteers instead of animals.
• Reduce: Reducing the number of animals used, by improving experimental techniques and sharing information with other researchers so that the same experiments aren’t being done by many people.
• Refine: Refining the way the animals are cared for to help minimise any stress or pain, by using less invasive techniques where possible and improving medical care and living conditions."

In these labs they are not just torturing animals they are doing the least amount of harm they can to get the most benefits. In these labs and from these testings they are finding helpful cures to actual problems that affect people and animals. This might sound bad to some people but i would rather do testing on a mouse than a human if that testing could result in a cure for a potentially deadly disease. Some examples of cures that have been found from animal testing are antibiotics, insulin, vaccines, organ transplantation, and HIV. without these many people would of died. Now it doesn't matter to me as much as if you agree with me as long as i explained the other side of the story.

 

https://www.yourgenome.org/debates/should-animals-be-used-in-research

https://fbresearch.org/why-we-must-use-animals-in-research/