1. Gabrielle Greenwood
English 1020
Report #1
Animal testing has been a controversial issue since the late 19th century when more and
more companies used animals to test their products. As more companies surfaced, the more
animal testing was used. It was first used in the third and fourth centuries of BCE when
experiments were first preformed on living animals. In the 12th century a Arabic physician
named Avenzor introduced animal testing a experimental method to see what was safe for
humans. The first major breakthrough in animal testing was in 1922 when the medicine for
diabetes was created from figuring out the affect it had on dogs. Throughout time there has been
a method used in animal testing called the three Rs. The three Rs stand for reduction, refinement,
and replacement. Reduction stands for reducing the number of animals used in experiments.
Refinement stands for reducing the amount of suffering for the animal. Lastly, replacement
stands for replacing animals with alternative techniques such as computer models of skin cells.
The issue with animal testing is that people believe that animals have the right to live a life
that doesn't involve pain and suffering. Instead of just being useful to humans people think that
animals serve a greater purpose. As many as 95% of the animals being tested on are not
protected by the federal Animal Welfare Act. Animal testing has contributed to many life-saving
cures and treatments, but it is also viewed as cruel and inhumane. Some people see it as the only
means of running tests to see how it would affect the human body. Others suggest that
companies progress to new means of testing on lab-made human skin cells and organs
Continents like Europe have banned animal testing for cosmetics and the import or sale of
animal tested products. An average of 100 million animals that are tested on are crippled,
poisoned, burned, and abused in labs in the United Sates every year. Common cosmetic tests
include skin and eye irritation tests. In the skin and eye irritation test the chemicals are rubbed on

2. Gabrielle Greenwood
English 1020
Report #1
shaved skin or put onto the eyes and are not given any pain medicine afterward. Since animals do
not get the same diseases as humans, they are injected with the disease for better test results.
Mice have been tested on to find a cure for cancer. Even though the cure for humans has not
been found, cancer in mice has successfully been treated.
Since there are mixed views on animal testing, organizations such as PETA have emerged.
PETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. They are known as the largest
animal advocacy group in the world. They have over three million members and supporters
worldwide. Recently PETA sent a worker to a supplier warehouse that supplies Petco and
Petsmart. Inside they discovered animals being gassed and frozen alive, which is now under
investigation. People may not be able to stop animal testing alone, so groups like PETA unite
together to make a difference that they seek.
Animal testing like anything else has it's positives and it's negatives. Whether or not people
like it it is still used to this day, but eventually more means of testing may emerge.
Purpose: Inform people on the affects of animal testing and that there are alternate routes.
Audience: CEO’s of companies that test on animals and to inform consumers.
Genre: Persuasive
Stance: Against