Animal Advocates Watchdog

Why is the number of animals used increasing when other methods produce more reliable results?

Vincent said UBC is leading the growth in Canadian animal research.

University defends testing
But the university defends the need to experiment on lab animals.

The new facility will support the campus's recently added medical school, where researchers will be working on treatments for a number of diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's disease, said Dr. Chris Harvey-Clark, a veterinarian and UBC' director of animal care.

"Although we accept animals have to be used in research, we also have to be very careful and thoughtful in how the animals are used," Harvey-Clark said. "We try to make [the animals'] lives as good as we can."

Harvey-Clark said more than 95 per cent of the testing done by UBC researchers involves mice and fish.

"Where we can, we try to replace animals with cell cultures, computer progams and where we have to use animals, we try to refine that to where we use the minimum number and the most basic types of animals," he said. "Rather than use a primate, for instance, we try to use where we can and [if] it's appropriate, a mouse."

Lyn MacDonald comment: Why does UBC accept that animals "have" to be used in research (because clearly they do not have to be used at all)?

When even UBC admits that cell cultures, computer programs and so on can be used instead of using animals, why is the number of animals used in Canada increasing? This is not a civilized country, it is a sick one, and even our physical maladies will not be relieved by the torment of non-human animals. Why isn't the SPCA doing something about this inhumane treatment of animals - yes, including the mice and the fish?

Messages In This Thread

Activists condemn B.C. animal research project *PIC*
Do they think a mouse has no feelings?
Sadistic indifference one of many things wrong with using animals in research
Re: Do they think a mouse has no feelings?
Why is the number of animals used increasing when other methods produce more reliable results?

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