Research with humans and animals is a complex task, requiring scientists to go through an approval process to ensure humane treatment of their participants, no matter the species. This is an introduction to research ethics applications for those interested in doing research with humans and animals. Part 1 focused on research in humans. In this post, we’ll focus on animal research.
The Animal Welfare Act of 1966 was brought about by two major media publications. In Sports Illustrated, Pepper, the Dalmatian, had disappeared from her family’s front yard, only to have been found at an east coast hospital and after having been euthanized, following an experimental medical research study involving an early model of a pacemaker. Pepper had been snatched from her owner’s front yard, and then sold for use in medical research, all without their knowledge. Later, Life magazine published a horrifying piece titled Concentration Camps for Dogs. It focused on a farm in Maryland, where dogs had been kept under inhumane conditions before being sold to research laboratories. After the release of these stories, public outcries forced the US Congress into action, and spearheaded by Senator Bob Dole, the first version of the Animal Welfare Act was enacted.