Animal experiments end at Ormond college Kilkenny

kilkenny | animal rights | news report

Thursday March 12, 2009 14:13

by Bernie Wright - . Alliance for Animal Rights.(AFAR)

berniew at esatclear dot ie

AFAR. PO Box 4734. Dublin.1

College praised for compassionate move.

The Alliance for Animal Rights who are totally opposed to the use of animals are glad to hear of a welcome development in Ormonde College, kilkenny.We hope the use of audio-visual approaches as opposed to animal experiments at Ormond college will spread within the research community.

The Kilkenny educational facility has come up with a novel and ethical way of providing students with all they need to know about the physical make up of animals, without hurting them.

Biology experiments, including the dissection of frogs and other little creatures have ceased at Kil-kenny's Ormonde College of Further Education thanks to the use of computer-based simulations and three-dimensional models, pioneered by Patrizia Setola, co-ordinator of the Animal Care course at the College.

"Too often our use of animals, particularly for dissection in scientific research reinforces a simplistic view that any manipulation of animals constitutes science," she said.

Because animal experimentation involves the incarceration of animals causing intense psychological distress, this will save lives-AFAR spokesperson. Also animals are often poisoned, mutilated, given diseases and killed. It is arguably the most severe form of systematic violence in the modern world.
Other terms for animal experimentation include 'vivisection', 'animal testing', and 'animal research'. Thanks to advancements in modern technology, there are now safe and reliable methods of testing products that save animal lives while assuring the safety and well-being of the public.

Proponents of non-animal testing methods in the scientific community have shown that these methods are often more reliable, quicker and cost-effective.

Examples of these non-animal methods range from computer and mathematical models to the use of human volunteers. In vitro tests include ones that use cell or tissue cultures, such as artificial test skin derived from human foreskin. Chemical tests include the Neutral Red Bioassay that uses a neutral red, water-soluble dye that is added to normal skin cells in a tissue culture plate, and a computer measurement of the level of uptake of the dye by the cells is used to indicate the relative toxicity. ‘

Bernie Wright. Press officer