Animals That Were Used For Drug Testing Can Now Be Adopted Instead Of Euthanized
As people are becoming more and more aware of their impact on the environment, many are choosing to alter their actions as well as the products they use and the companies they support. Lately, the masses have looked closer at what brands and big names have products that were created using animal testing. And while the following outrage made many companies change their policies and stop testing on animals, the FDA still requires all drugs in the US to be tested on animals. What’s more gruesome than that, it was also required to euthanize the animals after the tests on them were conducted.
Fortunately, things are changing and now The Food and Drug Administration is rolling out a new policy that allows such animals to escape an unfortunate death. From now on, animals that were used in lab tests and are still healthy may be adopted, sent to shelters, or live out the rest of their days in sanctuaries.
Before the new policy, all animals used in lab tests had to be euthanized
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FDA spokesperson Monique Richards spoke to The Hill to report on the new policy. Turns out, the agency rolled out the new policy back in November of last year. Among the animals whose lives will now be spared are dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and some farm animals.
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“Yes, all species are covered,” Richards told Green Matters in an interview. “The animal program management, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and attending veterinarians in each FDA animal program use their professional expertise to decide on eligibility and proper placement.” Unfortunately, the policy only covers animals that are deemed healthy after the testing is done, so any poor animals that are left in a poor state of health would be still euthanized.
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The FDA conducts its experiments on animals for a reason. They need to evaluate how safe and efficient drugs, vaccines, various medical devices, and more are. Unfortunately, Cruelty Free International says that animal tests are actually not the most accurate way to measure that. According to CFI’s research, 90% of the drugs tested on animals end up failing on human volunteers.
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As grim as these statistics might seem, the fact that the FDA has rolled out such a policy might be a sign that better days are coming for the poor critters that might become “lab rats.” As animal exploitation becomes a more pressing issue in the eyes of the public, it wouldn’t be surprising if the FDA is steering towards different and more humane alternatives.
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Richards also remarked that the FDA and 13 other federal agencies are involved in the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM), whose goal is to eventually phase out animal testing and replace it with non-animal testing methods as soon as possible.
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Additionally, legislators are trying to push the AFTER Act in Congress, which would require and help federal agencies to rehome animals that were previously used for experiments.
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Here’s how people reacted to the new policy
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How about just NOT USE ANIMALS FOR TESTING in the first place?? Disgusting practice!
I totally agree. If this was banned scientists would find alternative methods, like testing on cell cultures or computational testing. Then when they ate happy they can test it on volunteers.
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Umm....why not do one better and ban animal testing all together? But well done for taking this step forward
Anyone that is pro-animal testing should donate their own life for testing purposes.
While I'm completely on board with treating animals humanely, I don't think we can really ban animal testing completely. What would we do instead? Option 1 is full-stop to any research on cancer, Alzheimer's, everything. Option 2 is we test everything on humans. And where would we find volunteers for a *completely* untested concoction? There would be some (desperate souls) but not many. And the death rates would be very high. Is there an Option 3 that isn't just some hybrid of 1 and 2? I think it's a question of the lesser of evils. I can accept that other people might hold the valid opinion that these options are better than testing on something that cannot give consent or defend itself. But there are no easy answers here.
Okay, fine. Let's not completely stop all animal testing, but let's stop the needless animal testing. Who cares if the shampoo stings in your eyes? Who cares if some foundation causes a break out or if some lipstick dyes your lips purple? Is it worth the pain animal test subjects go through? The article said that 90% of the time it isn't even accurate, so we should, if not completely ban it, cut down on it a lot.
Load More Replies...
Not a popular thought but I think we should test on prisoners. As far as I'm concerned, they owe a debt to society. I'm thinking murders & pedophiles; not prisoners that are in due to a non violence crime.
Maaaybe if it was volunteer only, or death row inmates only (if the death sentence is going to continue to be a thing).
Load More Replies...
Unfortunately, I feel that not enough care is taken to keep the animal healthy at the end of the testing because there's the whole "oh they're gonna be euthanized anyways" idea. So even with this law, most lab animals may still end up being considered "unhealthy" and euthanized. I think regulations to try everything to preserve the animals health should be implemented
I think it's outrageous that in 2020 tests are still conducted on Animals when after over 50 years of pain and suffering we are still drying from the same old diseases. Greed and this absurd wish to live forever turns mankind into a soulless army with no Compassion.I have been Vegan for six years now and I only use Natural remedies and Reiki. The day I am struck down with disease will be the way I am meant to live this life. I can't stop Animal testing nor abuse but I can chose not to support Companies who earn from death and suffering
To some of these idiots saying there’s no replacing animal testing, why can’t we use peadophiles, rapists and killers?????
They all look like such sweet, innocent animals! Humans should be tested on, not animals! Will definitely adopt when I am old enough.
I agree, especially because humans are the one developing the things to test. It’s not fair for them to steal other species without a voice and use them for their experiments. It sounds even more vile when you think of it that way.
Load More Replies...
It doesn't make sense to me that they test on dogs, cats, rabbits and mice because they are no where near the same genetic make-up as a human. And while I know that it is necessary to make sure products are safe for humans...there are too many "products" that are unnecessary. Why do we need to test more make-up, detergents, hairsprays and such on animals? Those items aren't a necessity of life. The only tests that should be conducted would be vaccines and medications. And even that would be a waste of time on animals since the overall effects would be different in humans. Still don't understand why this is going on...SMH
Plus, there are some products that DON’T test on animals that are just as good, if not better, then animal tested products.
Load More Replies... I DESPISE animal testing. All these poor animals being tested on against their will without pain killers, and kept in tiny cages the rest of the time.🥺
I adopted my sweet cat ten years ago from an animal testing lab, the technicians were very caring with the animals and at the end of the testing trial they worked really hard to find the cats and dogs homes, I was hesitant at first but my cat was the last one without a home, so I fostered her and ten years later I thank God for such a wonderful, sweet, loving gift and companion.
This is a good start. However, I'm not sure that dogs, cats, and rabbits that have been lab animals is practical -- after all, they haven't been socialized and haven't learned to behave nicely with people and other animals.
It's not like people have been behaving nicely towards them either to be fair...
Load More Replies...
To those who object to testing on animals, I hope you VOLUNTEER to take their place for the testing and never take ANY medication again.. You should also make sure to tell all your love ones to stop taking their life-saving drugs immediately because they were all tested on animals . I love my 2 dogs dearly and wouldn't want anything to happen to them, but I understand the importance and necessity of testing on animals. Before you tell me to volunteer my pets, let me just tell you to hush! They don't test on people's pets. PS. I eat beef, pork, chicken, and an occasional turkey when I visit families on Thanksgiving. You had better be a vegan before you object to animal testing.
I do not take any medicine. I eat healthy. Try it. I don't eat meat by the way. Pigs ain't no different than your two beloved dogs. You are living in a dream world if you think they are
Load More Replies...
How about just NOT USE ANIMALS FOR TESTING in the first place?? Disgusting practice!
I totally agree. If this was banned scientists would find alternative methods, like testing on cell cultures or computational testing. Then when they ate happy they can test it on volunteers.
Load More Replies... Umm....why not do one better and ban animal testing all together? But well done for taking this step forward
Anyone that is pro-animal testing should donate their own life for testing purposes.
While I'm completely on board with treating animals humanely, I don't think we can really ban animal testing completely. What would we do instead? Option 1 is full-stop to any research on cancer, Alzheimer's, everything. Option 2 is we test everything on humans. And where would we find volunteers for a *completely* untested concoction? There would be some (desperate souls) but not many. And the death rates would be very high. Is there an Option 3 that isn't just some hybrid of 1 and 2? I think it's a question of the lesser of evils. I can accept that other people might hold the valid opinion that these options are better than testing on something that cannot give consent or defend itself. But there are no easy answers here.
Okay, fine. Let's not completely stop all animal testing, but let's stop the needless animal testing. Who cares if the shampoo stings in your eyes? Who cares if some foundation causes a break out or if some lipstick dyes your lips purple? Is it worth the pain animal test subjects go through? The article said that 90% of the time it isn't even accurate, so we should, if not completely ban it, cut down on it a lot.
Load More Replies... Not a popular thought but I think we should test on prisoners. As far as I'm concerned, they owe a debt to society. I'm thinking murders & pedophiles; not prisoners that are in due to a non violence crime.
Maaaybe if it was volunteer only, or death row inmates only (if the death sentence is going to continue to be a thing).
Load More Replies... Unfortunately, I feel that not enough care is taken to keep the animal healthy at the end of the testing because there's the whole "oh they're gonna be euthanized anyways" idea. So even with this law, most lab animals may still end up being considered "unhealthy" and euthanized. I think regulations to try everything to preserve the animals health should be implemented
I think it's outrageous that in 2020 tests are still conducted on Animals when after over 50 years of pain and suffering we are still drying from the same old diseases. Greed and this absurd wish to live forever turns mankind into a soulless army with no Compassion.I have been Vegan for six years now and I only use Natural remedies and Reiki. The day I am struck down with disease will be the way I am meant to live this life. I can't stop Animal testing nor abuse but I can chose not to support Companies who earn from death and suffering
To some of these idiots saying there’s no replacing animal testing, why can’t we use peadophiles, rapists and killers?????
They all look like such sweet, innocent animals! Humans should be tested on, not animals! Will definitely adopt when I am old enough.
I agree, especially because humans are the one developing the things to test. It’s not fair for them to steal other species without a voice and use them for their experiments. It sounds even more vile when you think of it that way.
Load More Replies... It doesn't make sense to me that they test on dogs, cats, rabbits and mice because they are no where near the same genetic make-up as a human. And while I know that it is necessary to make sure products are safe for humans...there are too many "products" that are unnecessary. Why do we need to test more make-up, detergents, hairsprays and such on animals? Those items aren't a necessity of life. The only tests that should be conducted would be vaccines and medications. And even that would be a waste of time on animals since the overall effects would be different in humans. Still don't understand why this is going on...SMH
Plus, there are some products that DON’T test on animals that are just as good, if not better, then animal tested products.
Load More Replies... I DESPISE animal testing. All these poor animals being tested on against their will without pain killers, and kept in tiny cages the rest of the time.🥺
I adopted my sweet cat ten years ago from an animal testing lab, the technicians were very caring with the animals and at the end of the testing trial they worked really hard to find the cats and dogs homes, I was hesitant at first but my cat was the last one without a home, so I fostered her and ten years later I thank God for such a wonderful, sweet, loving gift and companion.
This is a good start. However, I'm not sure that dogs, cats, and rabbits that have been lab animals is practical -- after all, they haven't been socialized and haven't learned to behave nicely with people and other animals.
It's not like people have been behaving nicely towards them either to be fair...
Load More Replies... To those who object to testing on animals, I hope you VOLUNTEER to take their place for the testing and never take ANY medication again.. You should also make sure to tell all your love ones to stop taking their life-saving drugs immediately because they were all tested on animals . I love my 2 dogs dearly and wouldn't want anything to happen to them, but I understand the importance and necessity of testing on animals. Before you tell me to volunteer my pets, let me just tell you to hush! They don't test on people's pets. PS. I eat beef, pork, chicken, and an occasional turkey when I visit families on Thanksgiving. You had better be a vegan before you object to animal testing.
I do not take any medicine. I eat healthy. Try it. I don't eat meat by the way. Pigs ain't no different than your two beloved dogs. You are living in a dream world if you think they are
Load More Replies... 
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