Animal Experimentation

The British public exhibits faith in certain aspects of the regulatory system for animal experimentation (i.e., the duty of inspectors to report misconduct). However, there is suspicion about other aspects of the, including conducting experiments without a license. The public is generally more accepting of animal experimentation if it serves human rather than environmental purposes, and the conditions of that support have not changed significantly since 2006.

This article describes a study conducted in Sweden regarding public opinion on the use of animals in research. The researchers found that 7 in 10 Swedes say the use of animals in research is acceptable for medical research aimed at finding cures for diseases. Young people have the most negative attitudes toward animal research.

This survey of people in Northern Ireland regarding pet ownership and attitudes toward various uses of animals found that people who were most likely to have a pet include married people, younger people, those living in detached homes, and those with children in the household. Attitudes toward animal usage depends primarily on the specific use of the animal under consideration.

This report summarizes results from Wave 1 of the Humane Research Council's "Animal Tracker" survey of U.S. adults regarding their attitudes and behavior toward animals. This inaugural survey of 16 core questions shows strong support for the protection of all animals. The strength of that support varies by situation and species, however, and actual behavior does not always reflect the favorable attitudes identified.

The United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency surveyed people about cloned animals and the prospect of products originating from these animals entering the food chain. The key concerns included whether or not food from clones would be safe to eat, animal welfare standards, the lack of tangible consumer benefits, and lack of trust in key players involved.

Hosted by the Center for Genetics and Society, this compilation presents a summary of public opinion about pet and animal cloning from various sources including Gallup, Time/CNN, FOX News, etc. Overall, a majority of the U.S. public opposes the cloning of companion animals.

This report from the American Anti-Vivisection Society is based on interviews with 1,008 adults, with results showing that the majority of Americans are opposed to the cloning of companion animals and the sale of genetically engineered animals as pets.

According to Gallup's 2008 Values and Belief's Survey, there were no significant changes in U.S. public opinion from last year's survey for the following animal issues: medical testing on animals; cloning animals; and fur clothing. However, when compared with 2001 data, fewer people today think medical testing on animals and wearing animal fur are "morally acceptable."

The field of animal biotechnology has been rapidly expanding and the development of transgenic animals has been part of this research expansion. How the public perceives such developments is an important component of policy considerations... While general awareness of biotechnology and its specific applications remains low to moderate, this article presents data regarding public acceptance of a variety of applications. These range from the use of animals as disease models and as sources for tissues and organs, to the use of transgenic animals for disease control, for food, and for the production of pharmaceutical and industrial products. [Excerpted from report]