Three words: Animal testing bites.
Are you aware that some of the products that you use everyday have been tested on animals? I bet you aren't, now are you. If you are thinking of the animal testing scene in Legally Blonde 2: Red White and Blonde, then get that thought out of your mind. Animal testing is far worse than having a Chihuahua in a little cylinder-shaped stand with some freak staring at it. Animal testing is animal abuse. Animal testing is horrible. Animal testing is life-killing.
Many animals are blinded, tortured, and killed annually so that you can have cleaning products, make-up, pain relievers, medication, and more. Many are forced to have products squirted into their innocent eyes, many are forced to inhale your air fresheners/perfumes, many are forced to have products pumped into their stomach, and many are forced to have products, harmfully, rubbed into their skin.
All over the world, about 50-100 million animals are used each year. In 2005, in Europe, over 12.1 million animals were tested on, mice being their 'top animal'. In the United States, over 20 million mice were used. In the United Kingdom, it is estimated that 200,000 amphibians were used, and 20,000 fish.
The top animal to test on is mice. Why mice, you might ask, it's because they are low in price, and they reproduce very fast. Other animals that are forced to suffer each day are cats, dogs, primates, fruit flies, rabbits, birds, rats, guinea pigs, farm animals; the list can go on forever.
You've felt pain, have you not? Think of the worst pain you've ever endured, got it? Good. Think about that happening to you everyday, but much, much worse. Everyday of your life, never-ending, stuck to suffer for your whole life. Mammals can feel the same pain as humans, no matter the size. Think of what they HAVE to go through every single day. They have no voice, they can't tell the people it burns, or it's hurting their eyes, or they can't breathe.
I've thrown away/boycotted a ton of products in my house. Now, I challenge you to do the same. Go through your cleaning supplies, your make-up, your perfumes, etc. Read the back and see if it says, 'Not tested on animals' or 'Cruelty free'. If your a bit too lazy to do that, than read the list below:
Cleaning Supplies:
Arm And Hammer
Clorox
Dial
Drano
Easy Off
Lysol
Mop & Glo
Orange Glow
Palmolive & Co
Pine-Sol
Soft-Scrub
Tide
Tilex
Woolite
Windex
Hair Care:
Aussie
Daily Defense
Dove
Herbel Essences
Infuism
Johnson and Johnson
Matrix
Pantene
Redken
Suave
Sunsilk
Make-Up:
Cover Girl
L'Oreal Paris
Maybelline New York
Max Factor
Deodarant:
Axe
Speed Stick
Hygenenic Care:
Aveeno
Clean And Clear
Colgate
Crest
Gillette
Listerine
Nair
Neutrogena
Playtex
Vaseline
*These are just a FEW brands that test on animals. To find out more go to www.caringconsumer.com.
I decided not to put any detail of how animals are tortured, and I decided not to put pictures of them suffering. Because, to tell you the truth, I can't bare hearing or seeing animal abuse (in detail), so why would I put it in the article? But, if you feel you must see to believe . . . go to www.peta.org/actioncenter/testing.asp and watch the video, it's heart-wrenching. (Editor's Note: These videos can be inappropriate for young citizens, please discuss with your parents/guardians prior to viewing)
Please, think before you buy.
-CupOfCake.
*Note: I do NOT advise you to watch that video.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_testing
http://www.peta.org/actioncenter/testing.asp
http://www.caringconsumer.com/resources_companies.asp
