Associated Press / Media General Poll
Asks whether or not respondents think “animal rights activists are justified in breaking into laboratories and stealing animals,” as part of a series of questions.
84% of the 1412 national adults polled felt that animal rights activists are not justified in breaking into labs and stealing animals. An additional 7% feel they are justified while 9% didn’t know or didn’t answer.
Almost half of all respondents felt that lab animals are treated humanely, while 30% did not and 24% were unsure.
About 8 in every ten respondents felt that it is necessary to use animals for research in such as cancer and heart disease. Seven out of ten felt that animal testing is necessary for basic research and six out of ten felt it was necessary for allergy research.
Nine out of ten respondents did not object to using rats in research while 55% approved of the use of dogs and 40% disapproved of the use of dogs.