Technical Issues: Research and Animal Abuse
Animal rights issues have not always been a problem, but with the recent rise in animal use in labs, food, and animal abuse this topic has increased in relevance to the public. As shown in Figure 2 above, clinical trials and lab experiments on animals is not limited to only mice and rats as is depicted in movies. Mammals, reptiles, and aquatic animals alike are subjected to hazardous experimentation in labs. Advances in medicine and need for new drugs and cures has lead to an increase in animal experiments. This increase in experiments has caused an increase in relevance of this topic to the public because they are more informed.
Question: Despite research that is conducted on the pros and cons of animal test subjects, will this debate ever be resolved?
Question: Despite research that is conducted on the pros and cons of animal test subjects, will this debate ever be resolved?
As time goes on, people are becoming more aware of the different forms of animal abuse. From harsh living conditions in factory farms to intentional maleficence from pet owners, animal abuse takes place all around the world. Animal abuse is defined as "socially unacceptable behavior that intentionally causes unnecessary pain, suffering, or distress to an animal" (Flynn 2012). As the public has become more informed of how animals are treated at factories and in abusive homes, the relevance of this topic has increased. Animal shelters have allowed the public to see first-hand the hardships that animals can face. Similarly, pictures and facts about animal factory farms has caused many people to turn to vegetarianism or veganism in hopes to stop animal cruelty. Genetically engineered drugs that stimulate growth in animals is also a technical advancement that has raised awareness of this topic.
Future Progress
As with any problem, there are challenges that must be overcome in order to further progress. Some of these challenges are:
- Nonethical animal testing
- Lack of laws on animal rights
- Treatment of animals in factory farms
- Drug enhancements used in factory farms