Animals Used in Experimentation

Are you a caring consumer? Is that lip balm that you can’t put down cruelty-free? What about your shampoo and toothpaste or that nail polish of your sister’s that you just can’t keep your hands off of? Or that laundry detergent that your mom uses to get your whites white and your colors bright? Do you scan labels to look for the “not tested on animals” seal of approval before buying anything? It takes just a few minutes and really does make a difference. It’s one of the easiest things that you can do to help animals.

Did you know that millions of animals are poisoned, blinded, and killed each year in cruel experiments so that companies can test their personal care products? It’s true! Animals are suffering right now for things like cosmetics, shampoo and conditioner, cleaners, and other household items. But here’s something that we’ll bet you didn’t know: Those tests are NOT required by law!

Speaking of laws, there is no law in the U.S. that forbids any animal experiment—no matter how painful or unnecessary. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is a group of laws that was put together to protect animals, but it leaves many animals out. The AWA doesn’t cover cold-blooded animals, birds, animals who are used for food, or rats and mice—the animals most commonly used in animal tests. 

Today, more than 500 companies - like The Body Shop, Bonne Bell, and Urban Decay Cosmetics—have stopped torturing animals with painful, useless tests, so chances are, you’re already buying cruelty-free items. These companies have realized that alternatives to animal testing are cheaper and produce faster, more accurate results than animal tests—which means that they’re safer for people, too!

So come on! Check those labels, and only buy products that weren’t tested on animals. And since there’s always more that you can do, fire off a letter to companies that are still torturing animals, letting them know that you’ll be boycotting their products until they stop. You can get a list of those companies by clicking here.