Animal Testing, an Overlooked Horror in Today's Society

© Fredrik Öhlander, Unsplash

For hours, you’re locked up, no food, no water, harmful chemicals all around you. Your screams seem to echo through the room, no one can hear you, you’re trapped. This is what millions of animals face each year due to animal testing.

In today's bustling makeup and cosmetic business, animal testing is only increasing. Despite efforts from activists and cruelty free companies, in 2021 animal testing increased by 6%. A majority of the testing occurred outside of the U.S., but nonetheless this is a problem we need to shed light on. 

More than 115 million animals are used in testing yearly.  Most of this testing includes withholding food and water, exposure to chemicals, and using harmful injections and medicine on the animals. Even the types of animals used in testing are extremely concerning. Animals we as a society view as pets, cats, dogs, fish, and rabbits are all used. Just imagining these animals in harmful environments can scare anyone.

© Science Photo Library

These statistics might shock you, mostly because most makeup/cosmetic companies state that they’re cruelty free somewhere on their product or website. However many of these are false claims. The only way to know if a company is 100% cruelty free is to look for a Leaping Bunny symbol on the product. 

Leaping Bunny is an official program which makes sure that companies are producing their products ethically. This includes making sure that the companies aren’t testing or using 3rd parties to test. They use genuine forms and legal procedures to ensure everything is ethical, so it's the best way to know if something is cruelty free.

Many makeup and skin care brands show the Leaping Bunny logo. © Leaping Bunny

Writing articles, making posts on social media, uploading videos, or even speaking about these issues with friends and family are all ways to advocate for animals and their safety. Even creating a cruelty free shopping list with all of your favorite ethical products can help. 

Each and every effort made to stop animal testing is another life saved. Animal testing isn’t often talked about, so it's our job as consumers and people to help spread awareness of these horrors. So step up, and be a voice for those who don’t have one.

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Citations

"The U.S. Is Still Failing Animals and the Public." Cruelty Free International, 24 Feb. 2024, crueltyfreeinternational.org/latest-news-and-updates/us-still-failing-animals-and-public#:~:text=Animal%20testing%20in%20the%20United,71%2C921%20monkeys%2C%20and%2044%2C847%20dogs. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024.

"About Animal Testing." Humane Society International, www.hsi.org/news-resources/about/. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024.

"Leaping Bunny Frequently Asked Questions." Leaping Bunny Program, www.leapingbunny.org/about/about-leaping-bunny. Accessed 7 Mar. 2024.