I was reading an interesting article the other day about how these scientifical-type people have been studying appetite and hunger. They have discovered that there are two types of hunger, brain and stomach. And of course when you diet, you are attacked by both types.
Now; while this study is rather interesting, I am outraged by the methods they used to come to their conclusions. They experimented on animals. They would alternately starve these animals and then allow them to gorge themselves on sugar. They also surgically removed parts of the brains that controlled appetite. The only reason that these actions are tolerated are because the animals being used are rats.
If you put make-up on a monkey, hairspray on a cat or test children’s costumes on dogs or food additives on paramecium, the whole world will freak out. But you can do anything you want to a rat just because the majority of people find them to be ugly, dirty and/or a pest. You know what; I’ve met plenty of Redneck who are ugly, dirty pests and I never once felt any desire to test the new purple ketchup on them to see if it causes a rash when used as a facial cleanser.
It’s not just rats either, you constantly hear about atrocities committed against laboratory mice and of course every time there’s a new variety of Blue Beaver Beer being developed they give it to gerbils to drink. I say it’s time to test beer on humans. I’ll eat all that free food and the scientists can watch me. Rodents are cuddly too if you just give them a chance.
I know, we have two very cute rats that feature in a video on my NY blog and there are pics on my Musings blog. But medical researchers are working on some very promising cancer cures and they are using mice to test them.
Yes, I wonder why people distinguish between the “cuddly” animals and the “non-cuddly” ones. Mice or rats, the principle is the same. It’s a blot on the entire scientific community to use helpless animals as test subjects.
I love rats too! They are actually very sweet. I am anti- ANY animal testing. It’s disgusting and cruel.
Corrina’s last blog post..Yes, Please.
What I am trying to say is that we should use test subjects that no one cares at all about. Some sort of creature that is even less cuddly and more repulsive than rats…maybe politicians and lawyers.
I think the one of the worst examples was when they removed the front legs of rats just to see if they could learn to walk upright. Do we even need to know this info???
Thanks for giving me that lovely picture of amputee rats stumbling around, April
You have to wonder why they even did the research. I think they already knew this in the first place. I know somethings have to be done and tested but this sounds like a waist of money and cruelty at it’s finest.
I think that you were reading an okward post.. how could a post make you hungry?? Haha..