Dogs are especially popular for use in toxicology tests, which determine safe levels of an
unknown substance for humans. They are also popular for cancer studies because dogs and humans have similar immune systems, making dogs a good model for cancer immunotherapies, in the eyes of the National Cancer Institute. The dogs used in these and other experiments are routinely euthanized at the end of experiments.
These dogs suffer in labs while dogs seen as pets cuddle up in fluffy beds, get gourmet food and are treated as family members. Many people simply are not aware of lab testing on dogs, and if they are they do not realize how terrible it is for the animals. If they knew the shocking facts listed below they would think twice about their purchases.
1. Dogs are Bred for Labs
Shockingly, beagles and other dogs are bred specifically for labs. Research institutions often purchase they animals from “Class A” licensed animal breeders who produce animals for the sole purpose of selling them for experimentation. Depending on the type of research that’s being conducted, breeders produce different types of dogs with certain characteristics, for example, dogs can even be bought with or without working vocal cords for the price of $700 for a 33-pound dog.
2. Shelter Dogs are Used for Experiments
An investigation into the University of Utah revealed they were buying homeless dogs and cats from shelters for experiments. Luckily, the exposure of this fact stopped this practice at the university, however, according to the Humane Society of the United States this practice continues across the U.S. “Class B” dealers, as they are known, often pose as adopters in shelters and then sell their animals to testing facilities
3. Dogs are Kept in Small Cages for Years
Thirty-three pound dogs are only required by law to have eight square feet of kennel space, and these dogs often never go outside or see sunlight. Some dogs go crazy after years
4. There are No Legal Limitations on Dog Experiments
Any experiment can be performed on a dog, the only check is the approval of a committee in the lab, but no federal laws stop them from approving experiments.
5. Tens of Thousands of Dogs are Used for Experiments Each Year
The American Anti-Vivisection Society estimates that 70,000 to 75,000
6. Dog Experiments Started Hundreds of Years Ago
7. Lab Dogs are not Being Protected by the Government
In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General performed an audit on its inspectors. The audit showed that inspectors had not been adequately enforcing rules or investigating facilities that violated the Animal Welfare Act – which is weak enough when it is enforced. The audit also revealed that the inspectors weren’t reporting the amount of pain inflicted on the animals correctly. These inspections are in place to protect the welfare of dogs in testing facilities to the best extent possible, however, if they are never enforced, they might as will not exist.
8. Dogs are Purposely Bred to Suffer From Debilitating Diseases
Dogs are commonly used in human disease studies due to their bodily similarities to people. Sadly, this means that dogs are systematically bred to possess certain genetic diseases for the sole purpose of experimentation.
At Texas A&M University, the leader of experiments on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Joe Kornegay, keeps Golden Retrievers with the disease in order to experiment on them. DMD is a genetic disorder that can also be found in humans which causes muscles to degenerate and become weak with age. The experiments performed on these dogs a painful and performed repeatedly.
At the University of Pennsylvania
9. Dogs are Poisoned
Dogs, particularly beagles, are used for toxicity tests that include force-feeding, injection or skin application of unknown substances. These can even include pesticides, which are obviously something no one should be drinking. Do we really needs experiments to tell us that?
10. Lab Dogs are Trained to Trust People
This may be the cruelest fact of all, because these dogs are trained to trust humans and be docile in order to be better lab subjects. According to a report by the Dallas Observer, establishing the dog’s trust is key to a successful study. Dogs who are stressed out by the presence of humans and the various tools used to experiment on them have lower immune systems and compromised nervous systems. In order to ensure the “efficacy” of their tests, labs have to train puppies to trust experimenters and not be bothered by the electrodes and prods used. Dogs also need
The same way you would train your puppy to walk on a leash or sleep on their bed, these dogs are taught to endure a life of brutal experiments.
No comments:
Post a Comment