It may not becommon knowledge, but animals save lives each and every day. Animalexperimentation has existed since ancient times to contribute to human life andsurvival. These experiments became the building blocks of health and medicine,and methods of experimentation have been improved and recognized since then. Someof these included the research of diabetes, vaccines, cancer, AIDS/HIV andopen-heart surgery, and as a result, many people have been saved. The use ofanimal experimentation should be recognized and accepted as a tool in savinglives.

Although animal experimentation saves lives, those against it arguethat its results are inaccurate and testing should be stopped. Many human andanimal diseases are similar, though, including rabies, tuberculosis, andleptospirosis (McCoy). Diabetics have animal experimentation and Canadian doctorFrederick Banting to thank; according to Animals in Research: Issues andConflicts, "Dr. Banting believed it possible to make an extract out oftissue from beef pancreas that could be used in the treatment of diabetes"(McCoy). He made this breakthrough and "thousands of lives are saved everyyear by insulin" (McCoy).

In the 1940s and 1950s, a polio epidemiccrippled and killed children and newborns. Without animal experimentation,"polio would still be claiming thousands of lives each year" (Haugen).The generations who had the vaccine have "grown up to be doctors, teachers,business leaders, government officials, and parents" (Haugen). Many wouldnot be alive today without it.

Animals have animal experimentation tothank for their lives, too. Many animal-rights activists argue that it is uselessbecause animals have nothing to gain. In reality, this experimentation is savingthe very animals these activists are trying to protect. Louis Pasteur, a Frenchchemist, helped save animals as well as humans when he developed a vaccine forrabies. He cultured the virus and then injected it into rabbits. The rabbitscontracted the rabies after 14 days. These experiments helped him create thevaccine for dogs. When Pasteur saw it was effective, he searched for a rabiesvaccine for humans (McCoy). Today, animal-lovers everywhere do not have to puttheir petS "to sleep" If they contract rabies. Instead they can just goto their veterinarian and get this preventive vaccine.

Experiments onanimals actually benefit all walks of life. Animal-rights activists disagree withany experiments performed on animals. There are human experiments, but when itendangers a human being, they are stopped because of morals. Animals aresubstituted instead. Richard Jones, a biology professor at Colorado University,says, "Nobody I know of, in biological research, who has to sacrificeanimals, likes it. It is a matter of priorities. You work for the greatergood" (Haugen). Animal-rights activists' literature claims that between 20and 70 million animals are used. The Office of Technical Assessment states,"Seventeen to 22 million animals are used, of which 90% are rodents"(McCoy). So it's not as if scientists experiment on endangered species; they useanimals with a fast reproduction rate that are abundant.

Lawrence Wade ofThe Washington Times said, "People involved in the animal-rights movementconsider the life of a cat, dog, chicken or pig to be equal to the life of ahuman. It just shows how far some of us have fallen in respect for humanlife" (Rohr).

Humans have vast intelligence, and through thisintelligence, they have a moral duty: to protect all living things and make surethey survive and flourish. Animal experimentation helps humans help themselves,as well as the animals around them. It is through this great sacrifice that manyhumans and animals are alive today. We must stay focused on saving lives becauseit is all for the greater good.

Works Cited:
Haugen, David M., ed. Animal Experimentation At Issue Series. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 2000.

McCoy, J. J. Animals in Research: Issues and Conflicts. New York: Impact, 1993

Rohr, Janelle, ed. Animal Rights. Opposing Viewpoints Series. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1989