In defence of beagles: the socio-economic implications of using beagles in animal testing - Essay Example

?In defence of beagles: the socio-economic implications of using beagles in animal testing Introduction The long and well-explored debate on animal testing has led many animal rights to be recognized in the society. In turn, the efforts led by many animal rights groups have helped ratify several laws to promote the rights of animals and fight against animal testing. To date, although the appeal has not totally eradicated experiments involving animals, it has promoted the awareness to animal rights and possibly lessened the frequency of animal testing around the world. In particular, some laboratories involved in animal breeding for experiments have closed following demonstrations by organizations defending animal rights (Woolcock 2005). On the one hand, efforts against animal testing have sufficiently controlled the choice of animals to be used in experiments. On the other hand, the latest developments have subjected some kinds of animals such as mice, rabbits, monkeys and even beagles to be recurrently used in animal testing. Although these animals all deserve to be treated equally right and be exempt from experiments, the beagle, in particular, should be let off considering the socio-economic implications of killing beagles for experiments. The point of argument initially relates to the role of beagles in the history of Great Britain and in the world, and it finally boils down to the role that beagles generally play in human lives. Taking into account these socio-economic considerations could lead to the immunity of beagles from being used in animal testing not just in the United Kingdom but also around the world. The Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain reported that in 2005, in the UK, 0.3% of experiments were done on beagles (Pallua and Sucheck 2010 p.140). Although this sum does not sound alarming, the exact figures of 7,406 out of 7,670 experiments on dogs or 96% in UK alone (ibid.) could send animal organizations, especially beagle lovers into a great fury. Without a question, these statistics present beagles in a very unfavourable position. Compared with other dogs, beagles suffer greatly from the social reputation they bear, having taken part in many experiments that clearly disregard the right to life of the beagles in order to promote human welfare. Basically, their involvement in experiments could make beagles look least important among all dog breeds, thus could make them the least likeable dogs especially amongst pet lovers in the UK. Social Implications of Using Beagles in Animal Testing Clearly, as more and more experiments are done on beagles each day, the reputation of beagles among pet lovers become worse. The frequent use of beagles could make them the least liked of all dog breeds. Therefore, should experiments on beagles continue, the future generation of dog lovers will least favour beagles for home pets, hence making beagles evolve only for the sake of experiments. When this doomsday comes, it is possible that other dog breeds will suffer a similar consequence, for humans never stop in their attempt to generalize findings. Having tested several pharmaceutical products on beagles, people will soon try other breeds to investigate the potential of dogs to be used in experiments intended for humans and other animal species. To date, several studies have found the potential of beagles for experiments. Akimoto et al. (1999) report on the use of beagles in an experiment conducted to lower gastric PH levels of humans using distilled water, pentagastrin, ranitidine, and placebo capsule. The authors emphasise the potential use of beagles as an alternative to human testing, and they conclude the use of pentagastrin as the most effective among the four solutions proposed. In general, researchers who prefer dogs to be used in experiments over mice and rabbits decide to use dogs due to the large bone and muscle formation of dogs (Pallua and Suscheck 2010 p.140). In particular, beagles are chosen among other dog breeds due to their size and passivity (ibid.). Commonly, beagles are used for periodontal research due to their obviously larger bone formation than mice and rabbits. Nevertheless, even these periodontal studies (Lindhe and Ericsson 1982; Lindhe and Svanberg 1974; Linde, Hamp, and Loe 1975) sacrificed the poor dogs for the sake of investigating the periodontis alone. The current literature on beagles in animal testing implies the great possibility of the breed’s doomsday. To reverse this unlawful fate, animal rights activists should act now to save the beagles. The statistics make it clear that efforts are not enough to defend the beagles from their scientific oppressors. The reputation of beagles in the present scenario totally contrasts to their historical as well as practical roles in human life. History recounts the role of beagles in the palace of Queen Elizabeth I in the medieval times. As Jesse (1895 p. 439) recounts in an anecdote about beagles, the Queen had ‘singing beagles,’ those whose heads are about the size of a man’s glove. The beagles were said to entertain the palace guests, thus implying the popularity, if not the noble reputation associated with the beagles in the medieval times. Relevantly, one breed of beagles named after the queen is known today as Queen Elizabeth Pocket beagles. Whether this breed is the same breed as that of the queen’s beagles is not certain. Nevertheless, the derivation of the queen’s name gives a sentimental reminder of the once most loved dog breed in the palace. Jesse’s account of the relevance of beagles in the lives of the royalty portrays beagles in a higher status than other dog breeds. However, it is sad to note that the royal popularity that beagles once enjoyed has now come to its finality, with the great frequency of beagles being used in experiments in the UK and in other parts of the world. Aside from their place in Great Britain’s history, beagles also deserve recognition in the history of the United States by the character Snoopy, a beagle cartoon character that appears in the world-famous comic strip, Peanuts. In this comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, Snoopy, along with his master Charlie makes Schulz’s craft one of the most loved and long-running comics of all times. The success of Peanuts, especially the appearance of Snoopy, should remind everyone of the relevance of the breed in the entertainment world, and in the lives of children. It is important to mention that Schulz portrayed Snoopy as a smart dog, even smarter than his master. Looking at this perspective, the respect that children give the character Snoopy should be realized by the young audiences when they see a beagle in the street. However, with the present scenario that beagles are suffering from, it will not be long until the children would get to know beagles only in comics. This does not mean that the breed will be extinct but the day might come when beagles will be confined in laboratories, bred in multitudes for animal testing and other similar purposes. In light of the comic’s worldwide success before and even after Schulz’s death, killing beagles for experiments should be considered as a serious issue among people in the entertainment world and all lovers of art. Moreover, the US government should make it a part of the law to ban the killing of beagles, in respect of the art that had gained the country much popularity and profit. World-class art such as Peanuts should be considered a national treasure, and Snoopy, being part of the famous comic strip, should be given respect in the same way that people give respect to the deceased artist. The heritage that Schulz has bequeathed the children of America implies not only to continue the legacy of his art but to regard animals and all living beings with respect. Economic Implications of Using Beagles in Animal Testing Beagles are basically known for their smelling ability, short legs, long soft ears, and passive yet playful nature (Kraeuter 2001. Their playfulness and need for company make them ideal as home pets. Some news report account the incredible deeds of some beagles in saving their masters from near death (Closs & Thumb 2010). In addition, beagles have an excellent smelling and sensing capability. Therefore, they are commonly used for hunting games (Kreauter 2001: 98) and search and rescue operations. Recently, beagles formed part of the rescue operations in Hotel Montana in Haiti, where more than 30 persons were rescued from the being buried for more than 100 hours (Twin Cities Pioneer Press 2010). Compared with other dog breeds, beagles are more often used in experiments due to their placidity and size (Pallua & Suscheck 2010 p. 140; New Scientist 1975:59). As mentioned above, experiments involving beagles are often related to periodontal research because the teeth formation of dogs is closer in size to the human structure than those of other animals. Additionally, given their larger bone and muscular structure than other species for experiments, the current literature also reflects the common use of beagles in bone and joint experiments (Kiviranta et al. 1987; Wronski, Smith, and Jee 1981). Naturally, like in periodontal research, studies requiring investigations of bone and muscles lead to sacrificing the dogs usually after the study is conducted. The success of studies conducted on beagles demonstrates the economic advantage of using beagles in animal testing. Beagles have certain characteristics that mice, rabbits and other animal species do not have. Mainly, being larger in size than other animals yet smaller than other dog breeds, beagles are good candidates for scientific explorations intended for human subjects. Moreover, researchers would argue that using beagles in experiments is better than using humans due to the potential harm and impossibility of reverse of procedures in many cases. Watson (2009: 5) states that ‘animal testing has helped scientists develop vaccines and treatments for many diseases that once killed millions of people’. This statement should provide enough reason for people to consider animal testing as a benefit more than a sin. However, since there are still a lot to accomplish in so far as new diseases are discovered each day, people can expect an increase in the case of beagle use in future experiments. However, as many animal lovers would argue, the use of animals, especially of beagles for animal testing is still unjust. The main argument in using animals in experiments surrounds in the fact that animals suffer from human hands or from the procedures and drugs administrated during experiments. Video footages featuring the sufferings of animals in pharmaceutical laboratories confirm the unlawful treatment of animals in laboratories (Hayhurst 10). Worse, animals used in experiments are usually sacrificed in order to prevent them from developing and contracting several diseases caused by the drugs or procedures administered to them. Moreover, in considering the nature of studies being conducted on beagles, one could note that although there are many studies that make purposeful use of beagles, still many others are done for convenience purposes. There are studies which could have been conducted on other smaller species but due to the convenience of using beagles owing to the breed’s passive behaviour and larger size, scientists opt to use beagle samples. Seeing this trend, people can expect more and more experiments to be conducted on beagles each day. On the one hand, as far as economic implications are considered, the use of beagles in animal testing should be seen as less preferable due to the higher cost it takes to breed the beagles and the more difficult means of transporting and disposing them after the experiments. On the other hand, the use of beagles may be more economical as test results could be more reliable, considering that beagles possess mammalian characteristics that are closer to human qualities. Furthermore, beagle studies are probably easier to conduct due to the dog’s submissiveness. Analysis of Issues The economic implications of using beagles in experimental studies thus confirm the advantages more than the disadvantages of sacrificing the dogs. Disregarding the social implications of using beagles in experiments, people can expect a number of pharmaceutical cures to be introduced in the coming years. However, this will encourage the killing of additional kinds of animals. In time, more dog breeds and species will suffer from the hands of their mutilators. Currently, animals are being used not only to benefit the pharmaceutical agencies but likewise the cosmetology companies. The current updates on animal testing in Europe, such as those conducted by L’oreal Paris (About Animal Testing 2011) provide a wider scope of the issue. At its present state, the economic profit that cosmetology companies are gaining from animal testing is far more than what one can expect. Therefore, discontinuing animal testing will definitely paralyze many producers, especially the multinational pharmaceutical industries. Nevertheless, we cannot just allow selfishness and greed to reign over justice. In response to the gloomy reality, animal rights activists should proceed with their appeal to defend animal rights, because although doing so would not totally ban the killing of animals at present, such movements could make scientists think twice. In spite of the practical issues raised, the social implications cannot be ignored easily. Taking into consideration the values of the people as a factor that makes a society function in many ways as it should, one can confirm the importance of the social implications more than the economic justifications. Science, as it has done in the past, claims the importance of advancement in the field of medicine, yet inventors should perform their experiments within the boundaries of law and upon the approval of the people through media. In the next decade, in the same way that science claims the achievements of its targets and the benefits it brings to mankind, animal organizations and social activists will continue lobbying for the abolition of animal testing and other cruelties directed to animals. In the meantime, animal organizations should competently arm themselves with concrete evidence of the sufferings that beagles and other animals undergo by being research subjects. The data in defence of beagles should include video footages, research and photos taken from laboratories and breeding grounds for science research. Mere hearsays and emotional appeals will not suffice to justify the exclusion of animals from animal testing. Conclusion The use of beagles in animal testing impacts the individual and the society as a whole. Being subject to research, beagles may later be viewed as dogs for mere experimental studies. Following this, pet lovers will usually prefer other breeds as their home pets, thus making beagles appear as the least dog breed of all. The identity of the beagle as a rescue-and-operation dog will thus be forgotten, and instead of letting beagles evolve along with humankind, the breed may face the possibility of being extinct. Giving beagles a negative status impacts the national histories of both the Great Britain and the USA as beagles form part of the national identity of both countries. In Great Britain, beagles were known in the medieval times as palace dogs, whereas in the US, the beagle character Snoopy from the world-famous comic strip, Peanuts has given the country great artistic pride in the field of comics. Considering these contributions to national history, beagles deserve to be treated with respect, and should be exempt from misuse in scientific research and experiment despite the great potential they demonstrate in being alternatives to human testing. Indeed, the worth of animals in research especially pharmaceutical studies has been proven. However, there must be other means to come up with effective medications for humans without sacrificing innocent animals. Following this, British scientists Russel and Burch propose the three Rs to exempt animals from cruelty. The three Rs stand for reduction, refinement, and replacement (Hester, Harrison & Balls 2006; Goldberg, Zurlo & Rudacille 1996). This principle is known as the alternative to animal testing. Instead of using animals for experiments in vivo, they can submitted to testing only after death or ex vivo in order to avoid cruelty. Likewise, other means may be done instead of sacrificing animals. References Akimoto, M, Nagahata, N, Furuya, A, Fukushima, K, Higuchi, S, & Suwa, T 1999, ‘Gastric pH profiles of beagle dogs and their use as an alternative to human testing’, European Journal Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, vol. 49 no. 2, pp. 99-102. ‘Animal testing in Europe’, 2011, About Animal Testing, viewed 23 April 2011 . Closs, P & Thumb, G, 2010, ‘Beagle,’ Doggy Sense, viewed 24 April 2011 . ‘Emotion and vivisection’, 1975, New Scientist, Reed Business Information, London, p.59. Hayhurst, C 2000, Animal testing: the animal rights debate. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., New York. Goldberg, A, Zurlo, J & Rudacille, D, 1996, ‘The three r’s and biomedical research’, Science vol 272 no. 5267: 1403. 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