“Toxicological experimentation” refers to testing the toxicity of a drug or a toxic substance on a living organism to see what reactions there may be. It’s basically just a fancy way to say “poisoning.”
In the U.S., labs use various methods to poison animals, pretending the results will teach us something about our human bodies. Experimenters force drugs and other toxins into the bodies of animals trapped in labs, to determine how much of the toxin can be used before it’s lethal or has other negative reactions.
They put poisons in animals’ eyes, on their skin, force it down their throats. Then they watch as the animal suffers and they note what the suffering entailed—were there scabs, itching, chemical burns, vomit, foaming at the mouth, seizures, death?
Even after torturing animals with poison, there’s no guarantee that humans will have similar reactions. Take, for example, Ibuprofen. For most humans, it’ll help relieve a headache, but for dogs, it’s often toxic.
So why do these experiments keep happening?
That’s a question addressed by recently introduced legislation in California—S.B. 252, the Protection of Dogs and Cats from Unnecessary Testing Act. Introduced by Senator Scott Weiner, this bill prohibits painful and unnecessary toxicological experiments on dogs and cats, unless required by another law.
We support this legislation, because it is the first step to ending poison experiments in the U.S. Labs poison all species of animals, and we’re hopeful that passage of a law protecting dogs and cats will be the stepping stone to protecting all species from being purposely poisoned in labs. We understand that change happens in increments, and every step matters.
For our California supporters, now’s the time to get involved.
The California Senate Judiciary Committee has a hearing scheduled for this bill on April 6, 2021. Please take a moment to send a message to the Committee to tell your representatives you support this legislation and would like them to, as well.