Animals in Research

The use of animals for research is not a new practice, nor has it only recently become controversial. Before the 1860’s anesthetics were not commonly available and all information gained from animals was a result of vivisection- that is the dissection of living individuals. At the time, using live animals was justified in the scientific community by prominent philosophers who claimed that animals could not feel pain, but rather reacted in only a mechanical manner to the response, like a coo-coo clock. The public often reacted against the definite pain inflicted upon the experimental subjects, with outcries lasting until the experiments proved successful- such as the case with Pasteur’s rabies vaccinations. As time passed, concern for the treatment of research animals increased. In 1963 the “Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care” was published as voluntary to be followed by institutions; however, many institutions chose not to adhere to the guidelines. Around this time activists had been claiming that cats and dogs were being stolen off the street, kept in inhumane conditions and then sold to research facilities. An article in LIFE magazine confirmed all of the claims, and stimulated congressional action to enact involuntary regulation of animal use in research.

            In 1966 the Federal “Laboratory Animal Welfare Act” was published. This act regulated the use of cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, and non-human primates- leaving essentially 92% of all animals used in laboratories unregulated. The act called for yearly, unannounced, inspections as well as thorough paper work and registration of  research institutions. Four years after the initial act was passed, it was amended to include all warmblooded wild mammalian species; this still did not include livestock species or laboratory mice. In 1990 changes were made to include horses and farm animals that were to be used for biomechanical or other nonagricultural research. Biomedical research is considered any research that uses an animal to model human conditions, or any research performed by any medical profession. This creates a grey area, as any research performed by a veterinarian is considered biomedical research even if it only  aims to improve animal production, or to further understanding of the biology, physiology or genetics of an animal; whereas the same research if performed by an agricultural doctorate would be considered Food and Fiber research, and subject to less regulation.

            In 1985 a public health service policy, entitled the “Health Research Extension Act” directed the National Institute of Health to set guidelines for the proper care of animals in biomedical and behavioral research, and included all vertebrate species. Following the creation of the public health policy a voluntary program, called the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee ,was formed which acted as a local extension of the federal government in charge of improving the protocol for animal research projects for an institution. These committees consists of veterinarians, scientists, non-scientists, and a member of the community which evaluate the protocol, inspect the animal facilities, review any concerns and complaints, and ensure occupational safety. The protocols submitted are contracts between the researcher and IUCAC, and detail the care and research that will be preformed; it must also ensure that all pain, discomfort and stress will be avoided or minimized in the subjects.

            Over the years the care and management of research animals has increased. Up until approximately ten years ago, animals involved in research received more analgesics than most pets. However, the use of animals in research will always be controversial despite the increased welfare of the animals involved. Animal rights activist groups such as the Humane Society of the United States continuously attempted to increase public opposition to animal research by publishing inflammatory information and also encouraging animal activists to but in Freedom of Information Act requests that tie-up the intuitions paper-work and force research to slow. Despite continuous opposition all researchers can do is adhere to and ensure the highest standards of animal welfare.