Hearts & Minds - Information for ChangeSM Help Us Help the Helpless Animal testing and abuse

Like us, animals feel love, pleasure, anxiety and pain. All too often, animals suffer unnecessarily, something we can prevent. Each year:

• at least $5 billion of our taxes goes to animal experimentation.
• 3,500,000 animals are trapped and skinned to make fur coats and other clothing.
• endangered species are being killed and their organs harvested.
• 50,000 greyhounds die every year from experiments or are killed because their racing career is over.

These are just some of the facts on animal cruelty and testing.

Testing products
Although there have been steps to stop makeup testing on animals, there are many other products being tested on animals, harming and killing them. Many companies and products run tests on animals that cause them to become blind, ill, or even to die.

PETA and other organizations keep an updated list of which companies do and don't use animal testing.

Other options
Not just everyday products are being tested, but many medicines as well. This is done with the goal of reducing risks for humans. But there are other options. Cultured human skin, donated retinas and other body parts can be tested instead of animals. And using human skin and organs is a more accurate reading of a product's effect on humans. As humans we are more complex and have different body chemistry and organ functions than other animals.

Organ Transplanting
Xenotransplanting is the technical term for transplanting organs between pigs and primates. It is very dangerous. First, it could cause an incurable viral outbreak. A virus that lives harmlessly in pigs kills primates, or potential a human. This would be even more dangerous for us if they start transplanting pig organs into humans, the ultimate goal of this research.

Is doesn't stop in the testing labs
Testing labs are not the only ones hurting animals, its ordinary people as well. Badly neglected and abused and pets have to be removed from abusive homes by the SPCA, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a worldwide organization. Animals are treated as inanimate objects without feelings. Pets, especially dogs, are social beings, just like us. They are strongly affected by their surroundings. The SPCA helps the animals find better homes where they can be healthy and happy.

Animals have feelings, just like us. Unlike us, they cannot speak out against abuse. We can. Join the SPCA, PETA, and Hearts & Minds to help save and protect innocent animals.