Download - The Price of Beauty
The Price of BeautyAnimal Testing in the Cosmetic Industry
Are They Worth it?
Animal Testing
Animal testing is a multi billion dollar operation, using millions of animals each year
Animals are used for the purpose of testing cosmetics and household products
It is an antiquated method that causes immense pain and suffering
What’s Wrong with Testing?
Dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, mice and monkeys are all used as test subjects for cosmetics.
The pain and suffering they endure is limitlessly horrific
Inexpensive, and more accurate testing is available.
Animal testing in the cosmetic and household product industry is completely unnecessary
Why is Animal Testing is Wrong?
3 different types of testing are used for cosmetics and household products; Draize Eye Test, Draize Skin Test, and Acute Toxicity
Inaccurate results Inexpensive, effective, and more
accurate methods of testing available
Who Cares about Animal Testing?
I have been purchasing cruelty free products for many years, animal testing is an important issue to me
Animal Testing has been the focus of attention for animal right’s activist groups for many years
Ie. P.E.T.A. – People for the Ethic Treatment of Animals
Could you?
Imagine allowing someone to pour Clorox in your pets eyes
Imagine allowing someone to dose your cat with a lethal injection….
…. Could you allow that? Would you allow that?
Draize Eye Test
The Draize Eye Test used since 1944 substances and chemicals are placed in the animals eyes’, the subsequent deterioration is recorded
The Draize Eye Test often causes swelling, inflammation of the iris, ulcers, hemorrhaging, and blindness
The test can last from 72 hours up to 7-18 days Medications to control pain are rarely if ever
used, the animal is left to suffer
Draize Skin Irritancy Test
The animal is first shaved and then the skin is abraded by taking tape and applying it to freshly shaved skin, and ripping it off repeatedly until several layers are exposed
The substance is then applied to the abraded skin and plastic film is wrapped around
This test can last up to 14 days As will the Draize Eye Test, pain control
medications are not used
Acute Toxicity Test
The substance is pumped through a tube forced down the animals throat, injected into a vein, into their food, or inserted in the eyes, rectum or vagina
Acute toxicity testing is used to determine how much of a substance it takes to kill the testing group
The toxins often produce convulsions, diarrhea, laboured breathing, emaciation, constipation, bleeding from eyes, nose, and mouth, and ultimately death
No pain medications are used to control the animal’s suffering
How Accurate are the Results of Animal Testing?
Many scientists argue that because animals, though similar to humans, are not identical to humans and therefore any results obtained through animal testing can not be accurately applied to human use.
Millions of rabbits are used in testing each year, most often for the Draize Eye Test
Rabbits do not have tear ducts preventing the substance from leaving the eyes
Results obtained are not accurate as a rabbits’ eyes and a humans eyes will react differently
What are the Alternatives?
Inexpensive and more accurate testing methods are available;
Tissue Cultures Donated corneas Computer based and mathematical models Human volunteers
Where do Research Facilities Acquire Animals?
Many animals are bred specifically for research testing
Certain states allow facilities to seize animals from local shelter
Animals that have gotten lost, or put up for adoption end up in the hands of researchers instead of reunited with their families
Others animals such as monkeys arrive from zoos, or other forms of captivity
Captivity
Animals held in captivity for the purpose of research are:
Often mishandled and abused by the “trained” handlers
Not offered any form of exercise or companionship,
Not offered accommodations that resemble their natural habitats
Most animals become depressed, withdrawn, lonely, and will begin patterns of self destructive behaviour or become insane
What’s the Bottom Line?
Animal testing is cruel and unusual With the availability of inexpensive alternatives it
is unnecessary Millions of animals are subjected to torturous
procedures every year Animal testing is not limited to “just rats and
mice” it includes monkeys, domesticated dogs, and cats
The dogs and cats which can be and are made readily available to research facilities for cosmetics and household product testing from state shelters
What Can I do? As audience members, you may feel that animal
testing does not affect you, or your family, that there is no reason for you to worry about the products you buy… If it was your beloved family pet being subjected to these tests, would you feel differently?
Companies such as Proctor & Gamble make millions each year off the products they test on animals
If consumers refuse to buy the products because of their testing practices, the company will be forced to stop testing on animals
As consumers it up to us to put a stop to cruel and unusual animal testing
IS T
HIS
TH
E P
RIC
E O
F B
EA
UTY?
Animals don’t have a voice, and can’t say no, but as a consumer YOU can!
As consumers, we make the choice to support animal testing every time, a product is purchased by companies that actively test on animals.
There are far more effective, inexpensive, humane alternatives that do not require animal test subjects
WH
AT C
AN
I DO
? CO
NTIN
UED
Consumers are urged to purchase cosmetic products that are labeled:
Cruelty FreeNo Animal TestingProduct not Tested on Animals
Or look for the logo on the right; the leaping bunny.
Lists of brands that do and do not participate in animal testing are readily available on line.
IS T
HIS
FAIR
? Rabbits are held in stocks for Draize Eye Testing. Macaque receiving an injection in the eye. Dogs undergoing Acute Toxicity Testing, forced to inhale toxins.