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Lakewood Times

    Putting Animal Testing to the Test

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    Rats (Rattus sp) holding bars and peering out of cage, close-up (B&W)

    13,400 cats and dogs. 19,500,000 animals for science. 1,130,000 creatures for agricultural issues. According to Statistic Brain, these numbers speak to the suffering that millions animals face every year due to the inhumane practice of animal testing.

    Using animals for research and study has been in practice for thousands of years, since the days of Aristotle, who performed medical processes on a variety of critters. Over the years, this use has grown to include testing for scientific research, medicine, cosmetics and more. For example, Soft School reports that guinea pigs were used by Corwin Hinshaw in the 1940’s to help find a cure for tuberculosis. Experimenting on these innocent animals usually leads to suffering and their death; a quick Google Images search for “animal testing” will bring up millions of pictures of living beings wounded, stuffed into bare cages, or crying out in terror.

    Despite calls for reform that have been shouted since the late 1800s and the influence of organizations such as PETA, animal testing is still widely practiced today. For instance, according to Cruelty-Free Kitty, it is impossible to buy from popular makeup brands without running into the issue. MAC, Benefit, Maybelline, Rimmel London, Revlon, and Covergirl are only a handful of major cosmetic brands that test on animals. Toothpaste companies Colgate, Crest, Aim, Scope, and others are also guilty of this. Lists of skin care companies that test on animals are extensive, including well-known brands such as Vaseline, Neutrogena, and Cetaphil.

    However, alternative options and advances in technology have graced the markets with cruelty-free brands, with their products’ packaging proclaiming this information. Lush, Tom’s, E.L.F., and L.A. Girl are a few of these many companies. (For hundreds of others, take check out Cruelty-Free Kitty’s List.) Most of these brands are also fairly cheap, so boycotting animal testing can be made relatively simple.

    Animal testing on research has been a blight upon human society for centuries, even though we tend to call animals our friends. It is about time that we turn to more humane options and stay away from products that bring harm to living creatures. So, although you might have to go a little out of your war, try to buy from as many cruelty-free brands as possible- the animals will thank you.

     

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