Animals in Research; Saving the World
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yes maybe some of the test prove to be good. but the physical abuse to the animals is not needed. and please explain why these animals are not givin pain killers after these tests.
YOU should do your home work. watch a video of hidden camaras in these labs.
beating an animal or breaking there bones for a test, and then just forgeting about them? how would you like me to break you bones for a test?
piece of Sh*t.
http://www.peta.org/features/top-five-shocking-animal-experimentation-facts.aspx
I’m glad you commented on this, ‘pissed,’ because I think that most people who are against research with animals don’t have a full understanding of it. Many people think that the ‘facts’ in the PETA website you posted are a true reflection of the way things are. I work in research, and I will tell you that the standards of care for these animals are higher than the standards of care most people have for their pets. The people who work in research are animal lovers themselves, and know that the only way that the research will be valid is if these animals are well-taken care of. The videos of abuse that you see displayed on PETA’s website are rare instances showing people who do not deserve to be working with these beautiful animals that are saving the lives of you, your friends and loved ones. If that was the real face of animal research, I would be against it, too- but the truth is that responsible research is nothing like this! If I saw someone treating an animal like this in the facility where I work, I would probably be arrested for assault. Don’t base your views of animal research on the ignorant, stupid actions of a few worthless people.
Amen, Liz! And it’s not just us humans who benefit from research – my dogs will never know the pain and suffering of parvo virus, rabies, distemper, hepatitis – they’re vaccinated. One of my dogs has arthritis – she doesn’t suffer, thanks to medication and chiropractic care. Endangered species are being saved through the use of in vitro fertilization, vaccinations (rabies has decimated the African Wild Dog populations!), antibiotics, neonatal intensive care, and other medical procedures that we humans take for granted. I agree – those of us who are dedicated to the care and well being of our research animals do not tolerate anyone who doesn’t live up to the standards of animal care we demand.
“Pissed”, I get your emotion in this. We all do. Anyone who loves animals is horrified, disgusted and enraged by the abuse of innocent, pure souls and our animals are the purest of souls among us. We love them, “Pissed”. I couldn’t get past the first 30 seconds of the PETA clip that’s circulating now. I can’t hear it. I can’t see it. And I can get horror like that out of my head. The people in that video are the same as those who rape babies in child care facilities and beat grandparents in nursing homes. They’re sociopaths, “Pissed”, and PETA worked hard to find them. They aren’t the face of laboratory animal care. If you want to see what we really look like, look in the mirror. We love our animals and we love people…just like you. The public expects answers. They demand cures. Among these people are you, me and everyone else who loves their partner, child, parent, grandparent, and pet. Animal-based research is still necessary to provide those answers. That’s the truth. I’m hopeful that we can stop arguing and come together to provide more answers without animals. That won’t be easy and our love for all creatures will define the path. Don’t allow the lies from the activist community to keep us apart. Our animals need solutions, not arguments…and so do the rest of our loved ones.
I work in research because of the affect it has on the people and the animals that I love!!! My animals have benefited from procedures that were profected in research, and my family has benefitted- My mom had diabetes and my Dad Alzheimer’s. It is the life saving medication that gave me the quality of life that I had with them. And I have recently been diagnosed with Lupus- It is these amazing nimals and the wonderful people who work with them that gives me the hope that a cure will be found, and my life will be full and complete. I work with animals in research- and there is nothing else that I would rather do. I make a difference in someone’s life every day that I go to work- and now I have the opportunity to perhaps save my own life. That is a true gift and blessing!!! A friend’s Mom has Dementia, someone who did not know how she felt and animals in research. Now her thoughts- “just keep doing it- the medication is helping my Mom have quality time with her family.” That is what we do- we save lives, we create miracles, and the animals are our heros.
It’s normal to take for granted things that we can’t live without. Like medical advances that mean we don’t have to worry about living in an iron lung, or our children dying from simple infections, or having to euthanize our horses when they break a leg, or dying from a heart attack because there’s just nothing we can do about it, or suffocating to death because we can’t get new lungs to replace our diseased ones, and on and on and on. All this is was made possible by the Unsung Heroes, ANIMALS!!!!
I appreciate every day the contributions animals have made in advancing medicine for animals and people. My pets are healthier and happier thanks to medicines to treat fleas, hypothyroidism, anxiety and epilepsy – medicines I know were developed with the help of laboratory animals. I look forward to the day that we can fully restore function in spinal cord injury patients so my brother can walk again, and I’m thankful that scientists have animal models to help make that happen.
Dear “pissed,”
I’m going to address your accusations rather than your grammar.
I work in research, and my job is specifically to care for animals in research settings. I have never in my career even heard of anyone in my facility doing anything to purposely cause animals pain. In fact, researchers have very strict rules about exactly what they can and cannot do in their studies. Every protocol must be approved by a regulatory committee. Every study that has a procedure than would be considered painful in humans MUST include pain management.
Any researcher found not adhering to their protocol faces serious punishment and can be banned from further projects. But most researchers want the best data possible so they can be published, and an animal who is stressed or injured or otherwise compromised will result in bad data. Plus, the vast majority of researchers I know genuinely CARE about the animals with whom they work. If you have ever worked with small animals, you know they have little personalities too, and it’s easy to get attached to them.
There are bad people in every job in this world, and using these awful videos to represent medical researchers as a group is offensive and just plain ridiculous. It’s like saying all servers spit in people’s food- it’s just plain false. All of my coworkers love animals- that is why we do what we do, and I’m damn proud of us.
It is unfortunate that the actions of a few would reflect negatively on those of us who have dedicated our lives to working with and taking care of the animals that are used to develop lifesaving therapies, treatments and medical devices that benefit humans and animals. The care and compassion that I have seen with researchers and technicians demonstrate for their tiny zebra fish to mice, frogs, and dogs is heartwarming. If you didn’t care about animals you would not last long in the field. It is my hope that through animals and science that my mom’s Parkinson’s disease will be cured, and my step father’s Alzheimer’s progression will be slowed or cured in their lifetime. I was the manager for the facility housing the mice that were part of Dr. Sudhof’s research of which he just won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. His work has made significant contributions to Alzhheimer’s research. I am extremely proud of what I do, and extremely proud of my staff who care for the animals every day. It is a privilege to work with the animals every day, and we take seriously our responsiblity to ensure that they are well cared for.
Dear Pissed,
I want to thank you for commenting on this post and opening up the opportunity to be educated by the people of biomedical research. The link you cited is awful and disgusting but just simply not the face of the reality of biomed. The animal loving people that make up this field such as animal care techs, vet techs, veterinarians, scientists and research assistants asssure that animals used in research recieve suberb care and treatment. I strongly suggest you do some research on your own into this field, the governing bodies, organizations and most of all the science that is benefitiing you, your family, friends and pets. Again, thank you very much for commenting.
Estes
Hi “pissed” – I am sad you have been so marred by the media. I love what I do, I love my animals, I also love the animals lives we improve with research and the human lives we save too. I work in lab animal science… I have for the last 14 years. I don’t regret a single hug I’ve given one of my dogs, not one pet or belly rub, not one scratch. I love each and every animal I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Beating? Breaking bones? Not in the research world I know. What I know is coming to work early, going home late, putting their health above my own, looking in their eyes and seeing a friend, a colleague, a hero. I’m diabetic… this is my 28th year of diabetes. I entered this field to give my thanks to animal research. I would have died 28 years ago in August. My mother would have died 10 years ago from diabetes, then again 3 years ago when she got cancer, my dad and sister would currently be dying of cancer, my husband would have died 5 years ago from his diabetic diagnosis too. Today, we have good lives. Today we thank research, we love our lab animals… we say thank you to them every day – my team loves our critters. We work every day for THEM. Seriously – if you think horrible people work in this field, you’re sadly mistaken. Our compassion for life goes beyond what I used to think the human heart could handle.
Dear Pissed,
Several have commented on how animals are treated in biomedical research. Under the law, mistreatment is not tolerated. Since I have joined this conversation for scientific discoveries, I have talked to many people on the benefits/disadvantages of biomedical research. Overwhelmingly, those I have talked to have been supportive of biomedical research done in a responsible way. Most people realize that research must continue to have ways to battle horrible diseases. I had a friend who recently died too early from prostate cancer. He was only 47 years old. In my conversations with him, he couldn’t imagine having less time with his children or his wife. The specialized treatment he received, which was developed with the contribution of animals, was able to extend his life an entire year. For cancer patients, as I have come to find out, each day they live longer than the doctors predict is a blessing.
Leigh
I apologize for my reaction, But for many people who try to find information on animal testing find these horrible results. This is one of the first pages I have found that are pro- animal testing. Maybe if you guys show the world the true face of animal science, more people would have respect for it.
Also help get rid of these disgusting people who ruin the true meaning of your practice. I’ve known about animal testing since I was 7 years old… My sister forced me to watch these kinds of videos. If am only 19 now. So yes excuse my grammar and “stupidity” but it is hard for people to think this is good when all they see is bad.
Dear Less Pissed,
THANK YOU for posting your comments!! I couldn’t agree with you more, that most people see images that make them angry. If they know the truth about how biomedical research effects each and every one of us, perhaps they realize that their lives are so much better!!! Having this page is an excellent place for you to start doing your own investigation about how animal science indeed changes the face of medicine!!!
try googleing animals that aid us in research, thats the correct and more accurate way to enter it, trust me!!
Less pissed,
Thank you for the apology. I am sorry to hear that you have been forced to watch what I know are disturbing, sickening and shocking. Those are simply not the face of biomedical research. What you suggest we do is precisely what we ARE doing. Just look at the conversation we are having. Erroneous information on biomedical research is everywhere! My position is one of public outreach on many levels. The fact you recognize there is propaganda and have opened yourself up to the fact there is another face to this issue means I have done my job. I would encourage you to show your sister this website and the many advances for animals and humans science had given us. The articles and links to other websites on this page have excellent and correct content on the subject. For the record I did not in any way call you stupid. Seven is an impressionable age, nineteen is a formative one. Now is the time to do your own research and form your own opinions.
Estes
Dear “Pissed,”
My hope is that we can tell people our truths about animals in research, and help people see the wonderful benefits. All of us in this field care so much about our animals, and research is really an extremely responsible endeavor. Please, continue to visit this site, and feel free to comment, ask questions, and tell us what you think! Thank you for becoming a part of our conversation!
Dear Pleased (formerly known as Pissed),
You ROCK! It takes a big hearted person to admit that misinformation had led you to an incorrect conclusion. Like Estes said, we appreciate the chance to provide the truth. I’ve worked in laboratory animal facilities for almost 30 years. I can’t imagine doing anything I love more than this. My mom died of breast cancer at a young age. I was a small child. If she were diagnosed today, she’d easily be a survivor. And that’s thanks to responsible animal research. Thank you again for reaching out to learn the truth!
Dear Everyone,
Im am glad to know everyone isnt against animal research, I love my job and i wouldnt trade it for the world. We our helping so many people with the animals aiding in research. I love my “Babies”, thats how i refer to the animals of course they have names but i cant say them all lol, from the smallest to the largest of animals we take care of.
PETA and all the other organizations show you only what they want you to see and honestly people that mistreat any animal have to go through a committee because we take “mistreatment of animals” very seriously,sir or Mam “PISSED”,we report everything and anything. We wouldnt want to be mistreated why would we want our “my babies”,as i call them because i love them like they where my owm child or friend or any loved one,to get mistreated.I TREAT the animals like i would want to be treated with LOVE, LOYALTY, COMPASSION and NURTURING TENDENCIE. Personally I dont have children but im the oldest so my brothes are like my kids, i wouldnt mistreat them i love them.It goes the same for the animals, we develop relationships with the animals,they are like human beings with personalities of their own.
Since im in a lead position, it is not only job as an animal lover but my duty to ensure the techs are treating them the way they would want to be treated with dignity and respect,they love taking care of all of the animals who wouldnt love to take care of animals, its the greatest job and the most rewarding feeling i can have is seeing their faces and reactions as you walk into the room, them knowing you’ll always be there for them.
It is a life changing expeirence that i am happy to be a part of!!
I know there are people that arent going to understand the care,the husbandry and the physical part of it all nor the amount of effort we put into taking care of the animals.Nor will people understand the research that we help with just by making sure they have everything they need as far as vet staff and care technicians that keep up with their well being. i just want people to know its a beautiful thing we are trying to do they are helping us by aiding research into a new era of treatments and everything you could think off.
Part of my job is making them as comfortable as possible by just showing them compassion and care. It is definetly a learning expierence for me in every aspect, i didnt realize how much they actually jave aid us in until i started working in research, not just for me but for everyone in the field. Its trying to help make the world a better place but it does try you at times we are people who feel we are not robots, we have some much love for them its hard to go home sometimes i just want to sit around and be with them all day to let them know that we are there for them and that we love them.
I hope one day to be a supervisor of a facility to ensure that more people are aware of everything we do and i would like to help manage what we all work for from a different perspective. My Director always reminds us that “we are the reason a 7 year old child ,girl or boy, with lukemia will turn 8 years old, its the work we do that helps. My Director always makes sure we know that they its ok to feel,that they are living breathing mini humans/people that are helping aiding us in research that can change the world.
The animals aiding us in research are in good hands trust and believe I DO MY JOB WITH LOVE IN MY HEART. We show compasion like we would are home animals, like i love my cat Zues,and we show love and compassion like we would any stranger we meet or famliy or even friends.
If it wasnt for everyone on our team of vet technicians,managers, supervisors,lead technician,let not forget the most important part of the team the care technicians it wouldnt be possible.
If only people or the world, of course i am refering to the people who are against animal research, need to be aware that there is alot more envolved with the process of research. Behind the scenes are the people that not only ensure they get the best care but are taking their well being while aiding us research that will eventually be able to cure illnesses that we never would have imagined and the list goes on and on.Hopefully everyone will one day understand what research is all about and how its helping the world but also knowing the animals are in great care and in great hands!
“The welfare of animals used in research is very important.The people who work in laboratories – scientists, vets, animal carers – are human beings like everyone else and have no desire to mistreat animals. For many of them it is their primary responsibility to look after the animals, and they work with laboratory animals because they are animal lovers. Many are also actively involved in developing scientific methods to reduce the need for animals or replace them entirely.”- the understanding animal research website
It is immensely complex the proccess that goes into being able to do even get the approval for research with any animal but it is amazing how effortlessly the care and the love we can give those animals. I hope alot more people would get a chance to get a first look at how our day to day goes for them to understand what goes on and what goes into caring for the animals,then hopefully would change their minds!
Excuse my ranting but i strongly believe in what i have accomplished in 5 years working in my research career, this amazing group og people i choose to be apart of. Hopefully one day ill become a supervisor to hrlp spread the word of what we do considering most people dont even know the animal care techicians even exist!
I hope everyone that doesnt know about what we do, doesnt beleive organizations that accuse us of anything other than caring for the animals aiding us in research, I dislike that people say they are being “mistreated”, We have many laws that protect the animals in research one example is “The PHS Policy- require institutions to establish and maintain proper measures to ensure the appropriate care and use of all animals that aid us in research, research training,”- OLAW(National Institue of Health Website.
Excuse my long break down of everything we do to try to give the animals the best care and well being but i believe strongly in what i do for a living, like my Director always says Of course along with the research staff and everyone apart of our team in the Medical center, “we are the reason that a 7 year old child with Lukemia turns 8 years old” excuse me Director if you read this and i didnt say quite like you!!
I LOVE MY JOB AND WOULDNT TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD, WE ARE A FAMILY IN THE DEPARTMENT/FACILITY I WORK IN!!!! I HAVE THEIR BACKS THEY HAVE HAD MY BACK FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS! AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW THE PEOPLE THAT DISLIKE ANIMAL RESEARCH WRONG ABOUT THE WAY ALL OF US CARE FOR THE AMAZING ANIMALS THAT AID US IN RESEARCH!!
Nikki Chavez-P.S excuse my grammar and long sentences with no period lol
I LOVE MY JOB and I LOVE everything my job entakes!