Animal Research
I enjoyed reading “Animal Rights Controversy Dogs Encyclopedia Pages” (Jan. 23). I was angered by the portrayal of animal research as inhumane.
As an employee of the Animal Research Facility at the UC, Irvine, I help to care for the animals utilized in the research conducted at the university. These animals consist of thousands of rats, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters some cats and a few monkeys. These animals are all cared for with plenty of fresh food, immaculately clean environments, adequate three-dimensional space, clean fresh bedding, etc. There is not a single animal in our facility that is mistreated or inhumanely abused. Federal, state and university law prevents any animal from being abused.
The research does in fact save human lives. Without the advances of modern medicine, provided through the use of animal research, half of the animal rights activists would be dead. Biomedical research using animals has saved the life of someone near and dear to each and every one of us! If you don’t believe me, look up polio, tuberculosis, heart disease or any other life-threatening disease in your Encyclopaedia Britannica!
JOHN X. KELLOGG, Newport Beach
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