Rat
Rescue :: Local scientist
and animal groups angered over proposed new lab at Medway campus
Local scientist and animal groups angered over proposed new
lab at Medway campus
A local scientist and animal lovers in Kent are voicing their
concern over reports that an animal testing laboratory has been
given the go-ahead on the university campus at Medway and is
a joint initiative between the Greenwich and Kent universities.
Small animals - including rats and mice - will be tested in
a bid to find cures for asthma, cancer and psychiatric disorders.
And while a spokesman from the School of Pharmacy at Medway
has been quoted in the press as saying that the work would involve
“small numbers of animals and will be conducted when there are
no alternative experimental systems available” this, says the
angered groups is “preposterous and cruel”.
The Medway and Sevenoaks branches of the Vegetarian and Vegan
Societies and local rodent rescue charity CavyRescue have joined
forces in a bid to get the Universities to re-think their plans.
Backing them up is local scientist and animal behaviourist
Colleen McDuling, B.Sc(Med.Hons), MSc(Med.Sc.) who says that
animal testing is wrong – on two counts. “The biological difference
between us and animals has been proven. They are vastly different
from us which leaves us with the conclusion that to use them
is research represents extremely unsafe and bad science. We
can learn nothing from research on animals since the results
cannot be applied to humans.
“Secondly, their only similarities to us are emotionally and
behaviourally and even then there are differences. Like us,
they deserve to be left alone in peace!
An angered Mike Francis from the Medway Vegetarian and Vegan
Societies also highlights just how farcical the plans are: “If
testing on only a small amount of animals really is the plan,
why would the Universities spend all this money on something
that will rarely be used? Surely it would be money better spent
on doing research using cell cultures and other alternatives
rather than causing an animal to suffer and / or lose its life
all in the name of science” he says.
Jason Hulott from CavyRescue adds: “With the advances in technology,
it seems absurd and barbaric that organisations still resort
to testing on animals. It is also appears strange that a University
is carrying out such tests when organisations such as Cancer
Research UK, the Alzheimer’s Society and others are already
involved in research in this area..
“Surely this is just a waste of life.”
A full scientific study, written by Colleen McDuling, in to
why animal testing just doesn’t make common sense can be found
here: http://www.cavyrescue.co.uk/rat-article27.shtml
About CavyRescue:
CavyRescue (registered charity number 1111583) was set up in
1999 by husband and wife team Jason and Stella Hulott. They
have rescued, rehabilitated and rehomed over 2,600 small furries
(guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils), now specialising
in rats. Their aim is to educate individuals and organisations
on small animal healthcare and welfare and we regularly run
successful campaigns to this effect.
