Supporting information

RSPCA views

The RSPCA's ultimate aim is the replacement of animal experiments with humane alternatives. Until this can be achieved, animals used in research should receive humane and compassionate treatment at all times.

The RSPCA promotes and supports:

• the replacement of laboratory animals with humane alternatives
• reduction on the numbers of animals used
• refinement of experiments and all aspects of housing, husbandry and care to reduce animal suffering and improve animal welfare.

This strategy is known as the 3Rs. It is important that, as long as animals are used in experiments, every possible effort must be made to prevent suffering.

The RSPCA takes a constructive, practical approach, liaising with people involved in animal use and government, industry and science. It supports the development of techniques that will result in the replacement, reduction or refinement of animal experiments, the concept of the 3Rs.

The RSPCA’s research animals departments is involved in many different activities that stimulate greater understanding of animals’ needs and of the welfare and ethical issues surrounding animal use in science. These include:

• visiting research and testing establishments to highlight issues of concern and help implement the 3Rs
• speaking at scientific conferences
• developing scientific research and reports
• membership of many influential national and international committees and working groups
• input into the revision of European Directive 86/609, which regulates animal care and use – the RSPCA is pressing for a new law to include a requirement for the 3Rs and a harm/benefit assessment.

Welfare concerns

There are many examples of the suffering caused to animals by experiments to provide medicines for serious human conditions. For example, tetanus is an infection caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani, which can enter the bloodstream and produce toxins. It causes fever, headache and muscle stiffness in the neck and can also cause suffocation. All children in the UK have been vaccinated against tetanus since 1961. For each batch of vaccine produced, certain tests are conducted using animals:

• guinea pigs and mice are injected with the vaccine to see if they become paralysed, in order to test the vaccine for safety – they are all killed at the end of the test
• animals are injected with the vaccine and the tetanus toxin to test its potency – some suffer paralysis and death, and all are killed at the end of the test.

Recently, new tests have been introduced in which animals are injected with the vaccine and the number of antibodies are measured in the blood. They are not injected with the toxin, so they do not suffer the symptoms of tetanus or die of the disease. They suffer less, but are still killed at the end of the test.

Rabbits are used to test whether new chemicals irritate the eyes or skin. The rabbit is shaved and the chemical is put on the skin. It is left for up to 72 hours and then examined for skin reddening or swelling, which may show it is an irritant. To test for eye irritancy the chemical is dropped into one eye of the rabbit.

As well as the suffering caused by experiments, the RSPCA is concerned about the suffering caused by inadequate housing and care in laboratories.

The lives of laboratory rabbits, for example, can be greatly improved by providing housing and care that caters for their physical and behavioural needs. This includes:

• adequate housing with solid flooring, a separate sleeping area and raised areas
• social housing with other rabbits
• gnawing objects
• an enriched diet
• toys.

Social animals such as rats, dogs and primates need company of their own kind and should not be housed on their own.

All animals need a stimulating environment, so they do not get bored. For example, mice are strongly motivated to build nests so should be given nesting material.