Reply #23: I think it could be drastically reduced and done much more humanely.

[iris27]

It seems little hypocritical for me to set out traps for the rats that invaded my garage, but be against their use in research that could save lives.

However, the sheer scale of deaths involved, the vivisections, it all just seems so wasteful.

I almost applied for a lab animal caretaker position at my local university, once. Figured I'd just be cleaning cages, feeding, etc. Then I found out they use lots of other animals besides just mice and rats...one of about 3 centers in the country to use dogs. How the hell could I leave dozens of dogs caged up at night, awaiting another day of god knows what to be done to them, then go home and scratch my pup behind the ears?