Document-Based Essay_AP English Language 4

Vaccines and medical cures used to protect humans against diseases mostly went through processes of qualification through real applications to animals. Simulations taken by animals contributed to longer life span of human beings and lower infant mortality rate. It is no exaggeration to say that sacrifices of animals involved in research has changed the world to a better and healthier place. Nevertheless, animal experiments have long been the subject of controversy, causing conflicts between advocates of benefit of humankind and ethnic organizations. Considering animal rights and efficacy of experiments, regulations on animal testing is required.

           As the idea of treating animals as same as human beings in terms of living creature is widely spread, imposing heavy restrictions on animal research has been argued. “Painful experimentation on animals should be halted, or at least curtailed, maintain that pain is an intrinsic evil, and any action that causes pain to another creature is simply not morally permissible.” (Source B) Animals also obtain the capacity for senses and other human-like characteristics such as remembering, believing, anticipating and distinguishing pleasure and pain. Rats, which comprise 18% of number of animals used in research in UK (Source C), have similar nervous systems like humans and feel the pain in the same way. “If it is wrong to inflict pain on a human being, it is just as wrong to inflict pain on an animal.” (Source B)

           “Growing criticism of painful experimentation on animal is matched by a growing concern over the threat restrictions on the use of animals would pose to scientific progress.” (Source B) No matter of the size of the animals, all creatures have the priceless right to be treated preciously. Since animals are incapable to claim their rights and fight for them, however, humans should be the ones to help them protect those rights. In reality, humans remove the animals from natural habitats, and intentionally raise them in artificial environments such as laboratory cage, “where they have no hope of having the kind of life nature intended for them.” (Source F) Animals possess the properties for being treated as “subjects of a being.” (Source D) Just as humans protect the minority groups such as infants, physically disabled, and mentally ill ones, “it is up to humans to recognize and protect” (Source F) the rights of animals.

           Without any “good alternatives to animals that worked better or as well for less money” in observing results of certain experimentations, “scientists are pointlessly pursuing experiments and models that do not work.” (Source D) According to the statistics given in Source C, more than 2.7million animals were used only in UK in 2003. It is hard to guess how many more animals were sacrificed for development of mankind. Even more, “there are many experiments that will fail or lead to no useful therapy.” (Source D) Countless innocent animals are unnecessarily going into the dumper. Humans do not have the right to take away other living creatures’ lives, which have the same value and worthiness.