Much research with animals is unnecessary. People choose careers in biomedical research because it is an easy way to receive funding dollars and high salaries. Most research animals are dogs and cats. There are no laws or regulations protecting laboratory animals. Laboratory animals suffer great pain and distress.
Researchers are indifferent to the well-being of laboratory animals.
Most research animals come from animal pounds. Dogs and cats are but a small fraction of research animal models. The majority of these come from pounds and shelters. Approximately 1 percent of the millions of unwanted animals that are otherwise put to death in pounds and shelters each year are released for research on health problems such as heart and kidney disease, brain injury, stroke, blindness and deafness, and for the education of future veterinarians and physicians. They are unwanted animals whose owners have not claimed them or for which adoptive homes cannot be found, and that will otherwise be put to death.