Views On Animal Experimentation, 2006

This survey of public attitudes towards animal experimentation in Great Britain reveals that 57% agree that Britain has tough rules governing animal experimentation and 49% believe that these rules are well-enforced. Other attitudes toward animal experimentation are also explored.

Attitudes Towards Regulation of Animal Experimentation:

• 63% believe that any misconduct that may be occurring at research institutes would be uncovered by inspectors.
• 54% trust that scientists experimenting on animals would not cause them unnecessary suffering.
• Two-thirds believe that animal experimentation occurs “behind closed doors.”
• 56% believe that the unnecessary duplication of animal experiments takes place.

Acceptance of Animal Experimentation (AE):

• 76% can accept AE as long as it is for medical research.
• 72% can accept AE as long as there is no unnecessary suffering.
• 49% agree that AE for medical research purposes should only be conducted for life-threatening diseases.
• 68% agree with AE for all types of medical research where there is no alternative.

Other Major Findings:

• 23% oppose AE on the grounds of animal welfare.
• Half of the public would like to know more about AE before forming a firm opinion.
• Half are willing to accept AE if the purpose is to test chemicals which could harm people.
• 42% would be accept if AE was conducted to test chemicals which could harm wildlife or the environment.
• The top 5 most acceptable things for animal rights organizations to do in protest are hand out leaflets (80%), write letters (70%), stickers/posters (68%), organize petitions (68%), and organize demonstrations (42%).
• The top 5 unacceptable activities for animal rights organizations to engage in are the use of “terrorist” methods (81%), property damage (79%), physical violence (78%), hate mail (77%), and verbal harassment (68%).