The Atrocities of Animal Testing and Animals for Goods

Like The Atrocities of Factory Farming, this article was extremely difficult for me to write. The subject of animal testing and animals bred for goods is incredibly gruesome, inhumane, and outright cruel to animals. If you’re a vegan already, let this motivate you to continue doing what you’re doing. If you are not, please don’t turn a blind eye. Educate yourself about how these products make it to our stores for purchase. We can no longer claim ignorance. The truth is out there, if we will only listen and take these things to heart. Remember, we are talking about living, breathing beings with feelings, attachments, and emotions. We are not talking about a cashmere sweater or a leather sofa. These are the true atrocities of animal testing and animals for goods–and everything the industries don’t want you to know…

Animal Testing

Animal testing is any scientific experiment or test in which a live animal is forced to undergo something that is likely to cause them pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm.

In the United States, over 100 million animals are killed every year in laboratories, medical training, experiments, food and drug testing, and cosmetic testing.

Some animals are bred with the sole intent of being experimented on. On the other hand, some are caught in the wild or sold directly to the industry.

Medical, laboratory, experiments

Animal testing is one of the most polarizing and controversial issues in the medical and scientific community.

Animals used in laboratories are deliberately harmed and usually killed at the end of the experiment. Other experiments require the animal to die as part of the test. For example, regulatory tests for botox, vaccines, and some chemical safety tests, require lethal dose tests where at least 50% of the subjects receive doses high enough to kill them.

In laboratories, animals live in small cages, often with their movement restricted. They are often in solitary confinement, without any interaction (other than with those conducting the experiments). 

Animal experiments include:

• injecting or force-feeding animals with potentially harmful substances
• exposing animals to radiation
• surgically removing animals’ organs or tissues to deliberately cause damage
• drug and toxicity testing
  • force-fed, forced inhalation, or injected
• forcing animals to inhale toxic gases
• subjecting animals to frightening and painful situations to create anxiety and depression and monitor responsiveness 
• genetic manipulation
• surgical procedures
• infliction of wounds, burns, and other injuries to monitor healing

Lab Animals

Most of the time, when animals endure pain and suffering because of the experimentation and living conditions, they are not given any medication or treatment to relieve this pain. They are physically restrained for long periods of time and often denied basic needs, such as food and water.

However, the majority of animal experiments do not contribute to improving human health. Furthermore, the value of animal testing, in most cases, in questionable. 

Animal testing is funded through taxes, donations, and the purchase of consumer products. And yet, very little information is available to the public regarding these animal experiments.

All of this being said, we must acknowledge the fact that some animal testing is necessary in certain situations. In order to safely administer some medications and vaccines to humans, animal testing must first be completed. In fact, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, one of the leading plant based diet doctors and author of The China Study has said he would have been unable to conduct his studies and get accurate results without the use of rats and mice. On the other hand, Dr. Neil Barnard, another popular plant based doctor, famously refused to dissect animals in medical school. After much lobbying on his part, animal dissection is now no longer part of the curriculum at that medical school. Referencing laboratories, Dr. Barnard said:

“Animals such as mice, rats, pigeons, [etc.] don’t know that they’re small and unpopular; they just know that they don’t want to hurt.”

Cosmetics 

Cosmetics tested on animals include makeup, shampoo and conditioners, body cleansers, lotions and creams, deodorant, nail polish, perfume, hair color, and everything in between.

Animal testing includes:

• toxicity 
• force-feeding 
• eye and skin irritancy 
• phototoxicity (toxicity triggered by ultraviolet light)
• mutagenicity (substances that induce changes in cells)
• lethal dose tests

Cosmetic testing on animals is banned in 40 countries, including the European Union and Australia. Animal testing is not required in the United States. On the other hand, animal testing is mandatory in China.

After cosmetic testing is complete, the animals are killed–usually by asphyxiation, neck-breaking, or decapitation. Again, no pain relief is provided, and they are fully conscious.

Leaping Bunny Certified

Vegan or otherwise, there is an increase in demand for cruelty free products. 🙌 

The Leaping Bunny Program is a comprehensive standard that provides independent certification of cruelty free and animal-free products. Companies must comply with the strict standards and guidelines in order to be certified. The Leaping Bunny certification provides the best assurance that a product is free of animal testing.

As stated above, if any product comes from China, it has been tested on animals.

Click here for a full list of Leaping Bunny Certified companies.

Common animals to test on:

• birds 
• cats 
• cows 
• dogs 
• fish 
• frogs 
• guinea pigs
• hamsters 
• mice 
• monkeys 
• pigs 
• rabbits 
• rats 
• sheep 

In the United States, rats, mice, fish, birds, amphibians, and farm animals are not defined as animals under animal experiments regulations. Animal testing is anything but ethical science. 

Alternatives to Animal Testing

“Research with human volunteers, sophisticated computational methods, and in vitro studies (based on human cells and tissues) are critical to the advancement of medicine. Cutting-edge non-animal research methods are available and have been shown time and again to be more accurate than crude animal experiments.”

Alternative methods, 3D and computer models, creative experimental models, and the development of appropriate databases and knowledge bases can drastically reduce the need for animal testing subjects.

Animals for Goods

Animals are used for much more than just food and testing. Utilizing animals for goods is a massive industry. For instance, even though sheep’s wool sounds like it would be humane and pain free, it is actually a gruesome and painful practice. (see below)

Billions of animals each year are slaughtered and processed for the fashion industry. These animals on farms live in horrific conditions. Then, they are mutilated and killed in horrific ways. For example, animals raised for fur are killed by gas, strangulation, neck breaking, or anal electrocution. 

Those animals that are hunted and trapped often sustain severe injuries and suffer under extreme conditions. When the trapper returns, if the animal is not already dead, it is usually clubbed, suffocated, or strangled to death. Fur trappers rarely shoot animals, because bullet holes and blood reduce a pelt’s value.

Traps set in water for aquatic animals are designed to drown them to death, which often takes up to 20 minutes.

Some animal uses and products include (but are not limited to):

• clothing 
  • angora 
  • cashmere or pashmina 
  • feathers (down)
  • fur 
  • hair 
  • leather (animal rawhide and skin) and exotic animal skins
  • silk 
  • wool 
• cosmetics and beauty products
  • collagen, lanolin, carmine, etc.
• crayons (often made with cow or pig fat)
• furniture and household goods
• gum (some brands contain lanolin)
• household cleaning and supplies
• medicine 
• plastics and adhesives
• sports equipment 

You can read through a list of animal-derived ingredients here.

Vegan-friendly materials

• bamboo
• cotton 
• denim 
• flannel (if made from cotton and not wool)
• hemp
• linen 
• microfiber (fine synthetic yarn)
• nylon 
• pleather (faux or vegan leather)
• polyester 
• rayon 
• recycled plastic
• spandex 

Animals for Entertainment

Animal exploitation for human amusement is nothing new. But, the way millions of people are thinking about it is. Animal exploitation for entertainment includes:

• zoos 
• aquariums 
• circuses 
• animal parks
• rodeos 
• hunting 
• pony rides
• horse drawn carriages
• other animal attractions

Animals in these environments are often neglected, abused, and mistreated. They are forced to perform and live an unnatural life. They are confined to cages and small spaces, and often have no quality of life.

Alternatively, try:

• animal rescues and sanctuaries 
• aquatic sanctuaries and sea life rehabilitation centers
• circus without animals
• nature hike and spotting wildlife in their natural habitat
• snorkeling (if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that you can do this!) 

Recommended viewing: 

• Blackfish (currently streaming on Netflix)
• Earthlings (watch full documentary here on YouTube)
• The Cove (available to rent or purchase)
• Hogwood: A Modern Horror Story (currently streaming on Amazon Prime)
• An Apology to Elephants (watch on HBO)
• Racing Extinction (available to rent or purchase)

Rabbits

Rabbits have many of the same neurophysiological mechanisms as humans. Therefore, they feel pain in much the same way we do. Rabbits form bonds and even experience sadness.

In cosmetic testing, products are applied to the rabbits’ shaved skin or dripped into the eyes of the restrained subjects. Rabbits are not given any pain relief and live in misery until they are killed or die from the experiments and testing.

Rabbits bred for angora fur are strapped to a board for shearing, which is done quickly. As a result, it is not a careful or precise procedure. They often sustain cuts and deep wounds to their flesh. Angora rabbits have very sensitive and delicate foot pads, so living in a wire cage often leads to ulcerated feet. Many male angoras are killed at birth, because they produce far less fur than females. 

Rats and Mice

Mice and rats have nervous systems similar to humans. Therefore, they experience pain, suffering, fear, loneliness, and joy in much the same ways we do. They are highly social animals that communicate with each other and form emotional attachments. And yet, they are not protected under the federal Animal Welfare Act. 

Mice and rats live horrific lives in laboratories. They are subjected to poisonings, burns, psychological torture, electroshock, and mutilation. And of course, all of this is done without painkillers or relief.

Sheep

Like all animals, sheep feel pain, fear, and loneliness. They are gentle and sensitive animals that visibly express emotions.

With more than 100 million sheep, Australia produces 30% of all wool used worldwide. Within weeks after birth, lamb’s ears are hole-punched, their tails are chopped off, and males are castrated–all without the use of anesthesia. Many lambs will die of starvation and exposure to the elements. Mature sheep often die from neglect, disease, and lack of shelter.

Shearing sheep’s wool is an incredibly inhumane practice. If they are sheared too early in the season, sheep will die from exposure to the cold. Sheep shearers are paid by the volume, not by the hour. This encourages fast work, without regard to the animals’ welfare. Often, sheep will have their face sheared and suffer deep cuts to their flesh, causing excruciating pain and infections.

Additionally, sheep are often genetically modified in order to produce an unnatural amount of wool. Due to the extreme weight and heat of the added wool, sheep often suffer from heat stroke and death from being unable to move.

When sheep age and their wool production declines, they are sold to slaughter. 

Ducks and Geese

Ducks, geese, and other birds are emotional beings who feel loneliness, isolation, and grief in much the same way humans do. They are highly social and feel pain just like dogs, cats, and humans.

Down is the soft layer of feathers, closest to the birds’ skin. It is utilized as the animals’ insulation. As a result, down is often used to produce warm clothing and bedding. These feathers are plucked from live birds, leaving them bloody and in excruciating pain. Deep wounds and infections are common. As they struggle to get free, oftentimes the birds’ legs and wings are broken.

After that, feathers grow back after about 5 weeks, and this horrific and gruesome process is repeated all over again.

Mink and other fur

Although minks have a reputation of being mean and aggressive, they are intelligent animals and feel pain like all other living animals.

Mink and other animals raised for fur experience intense confinement in small cages and overcrowded conditions. They live on painful metal wire floors and have even been known to be aggressive and self-mutilate, often chewing on their own bodies due to the stress. (Thus, further contributing to their aggressive reputation). Their suffering is great, and then they are killed in excruciating ways. Often, they are skinned alive, poisoned, strangled, or killed by anal electrocution. 

Anoxia is the lack of oxygen. Unlike humans, minks are able to detect anoxia, which causes them intense stress and extreme suffering when they are killed. 

Silkworms

Silk is the soft, fine fabric produced by certain insects. In order to prevent damage to the thread, silk is extracted by boiling or roasting the insects alive in their cocoons. Silk moths are sentient beings who have a neurological system. Therefore, being boiled to death is extremely painful and agonizing. 

Bees

Similarly, even bees endure intense conditions. You can read more about that here.

Leather

Animals used for leather, such as cows, sheep, pig, horses, and deer, may be raised solely for the leather industry. However, most come as a by-product of the meat industry. And we already know how cruel and inhumane that is…

Better days are coming!

The last two weeks, we have covered atrocities of animal testing, animals for goods, and animal exploitation, as well as factory farming. Thank you for reading these articles and taking these disturbing realities to heart. My hope is that we all start to think about animals as living beings, rather than commodities or food. Even if you choose to not go fully vegan, that’s ok. Hopefully, sooner than later, the majority of our population is either fully vegan or makes more animal friendly purchases and food choices. You don’t have to be 100% vegan to make a difference.

The goal of these articles are not to make you feel guilty or force you into veganism. My goal is to provide you with facts and evidence and let you decide for yourself. Whether you decide to go fully vegan, purchase more cruelty free products, or don’t desire to make any changes to your lifestyle, that’s ok. As long as you are an informed consumer and comfortable with your choices.

Thank you again for sticking with me through these difficult topics. They are incredibly heartbreaking, but extremely important to discuss. We can fane ignorance no longer. So thank you for being open minded and taking these things to heart. I appreciate you!

Next week, I promise, will be much more positive and uplifting! ❤️