Experiments on Animals: Call It Science, and You Can Get Away With Murder
Today in central London, passers-by witnessed “experimenters” performing “procedures” similar to those conducted on animals on a restrained human “subject”. This PETA action marks World Day for Animals in Laboratories.
The “subject” had his head shaved, “sawed open,” and fitted with an “electrode” before being force-fed “chemicals” via a feeding tube, dosed with eyedrops and having his “blood” taken with a syringe.
The demonstration took place in front of a banner with a message reading, “Call it science, and you can get away with murder!” instructing the government to end experiments on animals. This is the latest action in PETA’s campaign asking for a government-led roadmap to phase out all experiments.
Labour Party Pledged to Phase Out Cruel Tests
In June 2024, the Labour Party released its manifesto, pledging to work towards phasing out testing on animals and to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society” to achieve this goal. We are calling on the government to honour its commitment to end all experiments on animals: stop wasting money and lives on ineffective animal experimentation and switch to kind, cutting-edge methods that help humans and the environment.
To do so, we urge the government to adopt the Research Modernisation Deal, a 6-step strategy to end all animal experimentation.
Dogs and Monkeys Are Tormented and Killed in British Laboratories
Every year, millions of mice, rats, fish, primates, dogs, monkeys, rabbits, and other animals are caged, subjected to physical and psychological torment, and killed in unreliable experiments that do little to advance human health.
In 2023, more than 2.6 million animals were bled, poisoned, deprived of food, isolated, mutilated, or otherwise subjected to psychological suffering and physical pain in British laboratories. Millions more were bred and discarded as “surplus” because, for example, they were not of the desired sex or lacked certain disease characteristics.
Cures for Human Diseases Are Being Delayed
Testing on animals hinders medical progress. Misleading tests squander millions of pounds, time, and resources that could have been spent on human-relevant research. As Dr Richard Klausner, former director of the US National Cancer Institute, once said, “We have cured mice of cancer for decades – and it simply didn’t work in humans.”
Animal-Free Science Is the Future
More and more scientists are advocating for a shift towards better science. From human tissue models to 3D printing and organs-on-chips, forward-thinking scientists are developing humane, modern, and effective methods.
Animals in Laboratories Need Your Help
Animals can’t wait any longer. Join our campaign and ask your MP to urge the government to engage with animal protection experts to end animal use in UK laboratories:
