Animals in Science

The RSPCA's primary goal when it comes to animals used in science is the replacement of animal experiments with humane alternatives worldwide. It has been estimated that more than 100 million animals are used annually in experiments worldwide, including nearly four million in the UK. Animal experiments are done for many different purposes. Each area of animal use raises specific ethical, welfare and scientific issues and there is a range of views within society as to how much suffering should be allowed and for what purpose. There is also serious debate and concern, including among scientists themselves, about the usefulness of many animal 'models', and some experiments are badly designed and poorly carried out, wasting animals' lives. The RSPCA believes that much more can, and should, be done to avoid animal use, and to reduce the suffering of laboratory animals.