Vivisection

Vivisection, also known as animal testing, is the live experimentation of animals. Millions of animals such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, monkeys and sheep, to name but a few, are killed during - or after - experiments every year in laboratories all over the world.

All this, in the name of
so-called ''science''

Behind closed doors, vivisectors force feed animals chemicals, infuse them with cancers, cut open their skulls and place electrodes in their brains – some of the many horrors that go on in testing laboratories – then, if the animal has not already died, they kill and cut them up.

All this, in the name of so-called ”science” – fronted by the vivisectors’ guise of improving mankind’s medical advancements. When the truth of it is, that it’s all just a money making scheme orchestrated by the pharmaceutical industry. The faster they get a product on the market, the more money they get – regardless of whether it is safe for humans or not.

Keep scrolling down for some shocking facts!

Vivisection FACTS

Vivisection is the live experimentation and dissection of animals.

Around 200,000 animals are experimented on in Irish laboratories every year. All of the experiments conducted in Ireland are approved by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). 

A high degree of animal testing goes on in colleges and universities across the country, including TCD, UCD, UCC and NUI Galway.

There are also nine independent, commercial laboratories in Ireland – meaning that they are pharmaceutical companies who will test any product on any animal.

One of the major flaws in animal testing is that of ‘species difference’. This means that animal tests are basically unreliable as a way to predict effects in humans – you cannot predict how a drug tested on a rat, for example, is going to react in the human body.  Positive results in animal studies have continuously proved disastrous when applied to humans.

Animal research has been shown time and time again to hold back medical progress.

Today, when there is a wealth of sophisticated techniques including computer modelling, tissue cultures, epidemiological studies and clinical studies available for use that offer a cruelty-free, reliable alternative to vivisection, it makes no sense whatsoever to continue to use animals.

Vivisection FACTS

The notoriously dangerous drugs thalidomide and DES were tested in animals and released for human use. Tens of thousands suffered and/or died as a result.

In the 1980s, thousands of people were given HIV-contaminated blood, which was deemed safe as it did not affect chimpanzees (as chimpanzees are essentially immune to HIV).

In 2006, TGN1412, a new drug for leukaemia, cancer, multiple sclerosis and arthritis,
caused disastrous side effects in the first human volunteers – even though it had passed tests on monkeys who were given doses 500 times greater than those given to the volunteers.

More important than any scientific fact, is that there is absolutely no moral or ethical justification to test ANYTHING on animals, for ANY reason.

They are sentient beings who have the right to live out their lives, and they do not deserve to be exploited by people.

We have to say 'no' to vivisection, and speak out for all the animals who are locked away in dark, barren cages - right now - terrified, where their only escape from this life of fear and torture is death.

Vivisection FACTS

Arthritis painkiller Vioxx, which was withdrawn in 2004, caused over 140,000 strokes and heart attacks (almost 60,000 fatal), even though it appeared safe when tested on animals.

Blood transfusions were delayed by 200 years and corneal transplants delayed by 90 years, as a result of animal studies.

22 drugs to treat spinal cord damage were developed on animals – all failed when applied to humans.

Vivisection FACTS

Rats and mice are the animals primarily used in cancer research. They never get carcinomas, the human form of cancer, which affects membranes (e.g. lung cancer). Their sarcomas affect bone and connecting tissue: the two cannot be compared.

Even a former director of Huntingdon Life Sciences (which is one of Europe’s largest animal testing facilities) admitted that animal tests only correctly predict effects in humans 5-25% of the time. Compare that to the fact that human cell culture tests have proven to be 80% accurate.

Thankfully, there are companies such as InterNICHE and SynDaver, who are leading the way in non-animal research.

So, what are we doing about it?

We are currently working on a brand new campaign, which will target every animal testing laboratory in the country

Protests

Due to the Irish government's part in allowing this practice to continue, we will soon be launching protests outside government buildings, the HPRA (Health Products Regulatory Authority), and individual animal testing laboratories in Ireland.

Awarness

Most members of the public are completely unaware that animal testing takes place in Ireland. Similar to our campaign to ban fur farming, we will be bringing this campaign all over the country, and putting a spotlight on this issue like never before.

Lobbying

Apart from protests, lobbying the Irish government is very important. Along with the HPRA (Health Products Regulatory Authority), they are the ones responsible for the deaths of around 200,000 lab animals in this country every year. It's time to make them stop!

We have various campaigns running at any one time. Please click to learn about more issues!

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NARA is a legal, grassroots level organisation that only operates within the law. Information on this website is for the purpose of legal protest and information only. It should not be used to commit any criminal acts or harassment. NARA is not affiliated to any other animal rights group. NARA has no links or involvement with the Animal Liberation Front or the Animal Rights Militia. Any articles published on this web site relating to illegal activities are posted for the sole reason of publishing news related to animal rights, and are not intended to incite or encourage similar acts.

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