When I was first asked to explain my position on animal experimentation (testing) I had not come to a full understanding of my personal

position on the subject. After spending sometime reflecting on the subject I have a clear personal and professional position. I feel that it is essential that research facilities have the ability to use animals as subjects for testing. Human test subjects are not easily controlled and there can be to many external factors that can sku the data and perhaps not give an accurate description of the phenomena being studied. Factors, such as childhood, trauma, drug use, and lifestyle are just a few things that contribute to humans being inappropriate test subjects. Animals are carefully monitored most times from birth, providing the researcher access to most if not all of the potential variables that contribute to the resultant data. This still does not address the animal rights issue. Many individuals are opposed to animal research as they claim it is cruel, inhumane, and furthermore the results that are obtained are not viable, due to the incongruity of humans and animals. The animal rights group PETA claim, on their website: Right now, millions of mice, rats, rabbits, primates, cats, dogs, and other animals are locked inside cold, barren cages in laboratories across the country. They languish in pain, ache with loneliness and long to roam free and use their minds. Instead, all they can do is sit and wait in fear of the next terrifying and painful procedure that will be performed on them. The stress, sterility and boredom causes some animals to develop neurotic behaviors such incessantly spinning in circles, rocking back and forth and even pulling out their own hair and biting their own skin. They shake and cower in fear whenever someone walks past their cages and their blood pressure spikes drastically. After enduring lives of pain, loneliness and terror, almost all of them will be killed. I truly believe that this quote and much more of the information and opinions reviewed within this site and others alike should not be taken lightly. It is agreeable that in some establishments this type of animal cruelty does arise, and being a lover of all living creatures, would agree whole heartedly that this type of behavior is unacceptable, disgusting and should by all means be stopped and those involved charge with abuse. It is no way necessary, and in no way contributes to scientific research or the better good of humanity to abuse animals. There are several government protocols that have been set forth to ensure that this type of abuse does not occur in Canada. Institutions are required to have multiple inspections to ensure that the utmost care, and consideration is taken when handling animals. The Canadian Center for Behavioral Neuroscience has mandated a committee that ensures that all protocols are adhered to, as well as review each application for animal research on a case-by-case basis. The staff at the facility include, but are not limited to, two veterinarians one of which is specifically trained in small animal care, and animal care staff, trained in the ethical treatment, and handling of animals. I have personally witnessed the care, and affection that all members of the staff (research members included) give to the animals in their care. Any person or persons suspected of not following guidelines, or not showing empathy towards the animals will be forbidden to handle or interact with them.

It is an unavoidable part of research, and experimentation done on animals that some stress, surgery, and or euthanization may occur. It is usually under these circumstances that the general public tends to oppose studies involving animals. I can understand why they may have strong feeling against these actions. Animals are in fact living creatures, and I would never want to hurt, or harm an animal. It is these same people, myself included, that advocate the research of many diseases and mental illness needs to increase, and that the quality of life of many people can be improved, and lives to be saved if we are able to find answers to complex neurological questions. For reasons stated earlier animals do make prime candidates for this research and can provide researchers with, at the very least, a jumping off point for human research and data correlation. To conclude this thought, I am an advocate of animal research as long as due diligence is taken to ensure minimal amount unnecessary pain and stress occurs. As an animal lover it is hard for me to see pain and death attributed to living creatures. This does not inhibit my ability to euthanize an animal if it is required. There are certain models that I am not sure I am able to facilitate at this point in my career such as concussion models. I would handle the animal before and after the animal is concussed. However I am not opposing t his research and do not have a problem being involved in this and any other ethical research where my assistance is required.