Dr. Simon Brimhall became the first laboratory animal veterinarian (Cothran 82). When he started his work, the average life span of humans in the United States was 47 years (Cothran 82). In years since, that lifespan has increased 60% to 75 years (Cothran 82). Almost every medical science advance in this longer lifespan is due to animal experimentation, including Louis Pasteur's experiments (Cothran 82). Biomedical research on animals continues to advance the frontiers of human and animal health, even benefiting environment research (Newscientist.com).
Many of the world's major religion's core beliefs are for animal experimentation (Cothran 51). They all propose that human life is more important than animal life. Humans have a god-given authority over other animals, and humans eat animals and use them for work (Cothran 51). Ethnologists point out that some animals, such as dogs, cats, and primates practice behavior patterns, that the animals care for each other, and that tests can be helpful for psychological research (Watts 21). Many federal government agencies and departments do biomedical research with animals and product testing (Newscientist.com). Animal Experiments are used for education to learn about anatomy and physiology of the animal body (McCoy 28). .
Despite the advantages of animal experimentation, however, there are drawbacks. In arguments against animal experimentation, people who believe that humans are far better than other animals are committing "specie-ism" (Cothran 69). These arguments are used with sexist and racist conflicts as well (Cothran 69). In arguments against animal experimentation, a standard idea is that if we don't kill humans to benefit others, we shouldn't sacrifice animals either (Cothran 69). .
Vivisection is the practice of experimentation on live animals (PETA). There are many reasons to oppose vivisection (PETA). The Physiological variations amongst rats, rabbits, dogs, cats, pigs, and humans are huge, meaning that not only do animal experiments hurt animals and waste money, they harm and kill people too (PETA).
