________________
Jain Society of Greater Detroit
PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV ASHADH 4-12 V.S. 2054 Youth Article: Animal Cruelty
by Alan Shah · Animals on fur farms suffer from are criticized these days. An example is stress, fear, disease, and parasites caused by the LD50 test. LD stands for lethal dose dirty and crowded conditions. In 1987, U.S. and in the experiment a chemical is inmink farmers reported that 450,000 animals jected in increasing amounts until 50% died of heat and stress in their farms.
of the animals die. The Draize Eye Irri· Caged mink are so deprived of tancy Test is used to test household prodnormal activity that they often are driven to ucts on mostly rabbits for eye irritation. self-mutilation and pathological repetition of The damage is measured according to the behavior.
swelling, redness and injury. After the • Animals raised on fur farms, mostly tests, the rabbits are killed. mink and foxes which ordinary roam widely in their natural habitat, are confined inside Alternatives to Animal Tests: tiny wire-mesh cages for their whole lives.
Computer programs have been 4. Experimental Tools? - Millions of ani- developed to simulate the LD50 test; mals are used for research into heart disease, information from humans is used to precancer, and transplant techniques. In the dict the toxicity of new products. United States alone, an estimated 65 million Cell culture tests are replacing animals are used for testing new products each the Draize test at many companies. These year. These tests may also include blinding, poi- tests are faster, more accurate, and much soning, and killing,
more cost-efficient. Most experiments are performed on rats
Human skin patch tests, or tests and mice. Research with larger animals such as using egg membranes and tissue cultures, dogs and monkeys are more controversial. It is can replace the Draize and skin irritancy now accepted that these animals can suffer dis- tests. tress. The animals that are used in product test-
Organic ingredients are used by ing, often without anesthetics or analgesics, many companies instead of toxic chemisuffer every bit as much as would your com- cals. Numerous ingredients known to be panion animal at home. You wouldn't force safe can be used in products without ever your dog to drink shampoo to find out how having to be tested. toxic it is. So why do we let companies perform these kind of tests on dogs, rabbits, mice.
The attitude that allows animals and other animals?
to be used for human purposes is a form Many new products are tested just on of discrimination just as wrong as racanimals. Lipsticks, toothpaste, shampoos, and ism and sexism. Animals are just as caweed killers go under extensive testing to as- pable sess their side effects on humans. Many tests
Jain Education Intemational
For Priv 20 bersonal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
