This webpage exists for high school educators and students who wish to develop an informed and, therefore, balanced view of animal-based research issues. The public and political debate over the use of animals in research is not new. Perhaps with increased media availability over the last few decades, the average citizen has been more readily exposed to this issue. Our concern is that animal-based research be given balanced coverage. Popular media such as television have provided animal rights’ activists with a welcoming platform to disseminate their viewpoints. This website attempts to inform those in search of a more balanced perspective.

It may come as a surprise to some that a majority of Canadians support animal-based medical research. A 1987 Gallup poll performed in Canada revealed that 67% of adult Canadians support the use of animals in medical research if such research shows promise in advancing human medicine. In fact, a full 84% approve of animal-based medical research on the condition that animals will suffer little to no pain in the process. These percentages match the opinions expressed by the British populace, a nation known for placing a high priority on animal welfare. It appears that a majority of the public accepts animal-based medical research in principle.

However, the difference between the above two opinion polls indicates that at least 17% of the Canadian populace may be misinformed about the high ethical and animal welfare standards that not only exist at present within the research community, but are actively enforced by various governing bodies, and, in the case of the University of Western Ontario by university policy.

It is our hope that this resource will facilitate your ability as an educator/high school student to present a balanced viewpoint based upon the current facts of animal-based research as it exists at the University of Western Ontario, specifically, and more generally in Canada today.

This site is under construction - Please check back for more information