A Major Mistake

Biology students are better served by realistic models than by the sacrifice of animals.

By Kelli Banet, Best Friends Network Volunteer

When I was a teenager, my only interest in life was horses, horses, and more horses. As college became an unwelcome reality, the only logical plan of study for me seemed to be pre-veterinary courses. Biology became my declared major.

When I walked into my first comparative anatomy lab, I knew I was going to have problems with my decision. The class was a study of the internal structures and systems of frogs, dogfish sharks, and culminated in the dissection of Felis catus, or the domestic house cat.

At the time, I knew what I was being asked to do was wrong. Lucky for me, though not for the poor animals, we were encouraged to work in groups. I passed the class with little “hands-on” experience, by positioning myself near the students that had their scalpels out before the professor finished speaking about the syllabus.

Histology was described as the study of human and animal tissue. The course selection manual didn’t mention that the professor would kill a live rat in class, in order for students to dissect and study its internal organs. I ran from the room in hysterics. I’m not proud to say that I returned during the next class period to continue my study, after the damage was done.

The last class in my major of horrors was taxonomy, the study of scientific classification. I assumed I was safe with the memorization of genus and species, until the professor told us that part of the class would be spent learning taxidermy. He went on to say that only “fresh” kills could be stuffed, so anybody who wanted to participate needed to go to a pet store, and purchase a mouse or rat. He said that the pet store would kill the animal on request, and then it could be brought to class for stuffing. I am happy to say that I chose the term paper alternative, as did most of the students in the class. In fact, one girl came to class with a live mouse that she was keeping as a pet. It seems that the local pet megastore didn’t mind killing the mouse by thrashing it on the table by the tail. She was so upset that she took the live mouse, bought all of the accoutrements to give him a happy home, and walked out of the store.

After college, I had a heavy heart. I had not been successful enough to get into a veterinary program. I wondered how to use what I felt was a tainted degree. I sent resumes to every newspaper ad that had the word “biology” in the copy. Finally, I got a call from a well-respected scientific facility. They were looking for an animal care manager. I flew out to interview with the director. I was in love with the location, the community, and the opportunities for advancement. The director was a very nice veterinarian, who proceeded to explain why she felt animal research was necessary. Then, she took me on a tour of the lab. I saw hundreds of rats, mice, and bunnies being kept as test subjects. She described the room where the AIDS infected primates were housed. It was then that I decided I had seen enough. I knew that I would never be able to live with myself if I considered that job. The perfect place to live was not worth selling my soul. But, the experience helped me to decide what I wanted to do with my life.

I packed my bags, and moved back to Connecticut. I swallowed my pride, moved back in with my parents, and went to graduate school.

Now, I am a first grade teacher. Along with the state mandated curriculum, I teach children to be kind to animals. They learn about adopting animals instead of making impulse purchases at pet stores (and so do their parents). In a grade-level appropriate manner, they are taught about the importance of spaying and neutering. I like to think that I am helping them to become kinder human beings.

I am not proud of my lack of voice for the animals during my college years. Animals preserved in formaldehyde, and shot full of dyes and preservatives, bear little resemblance to living creatures. Several years after graduation, I took some human anatomy classes at a small community college, and realistic models were used for lab courses. I learned much more about locating tiny, delicate body structures in these classes than I ever did by passively condoning the sacrifice of an innocent creature.

I know that I cannot change my past mistakes, but I have learned from them. In the process I have found my voice, which I now use to speak for the voiceless. Perhaps I can keep someone from making the same choices that I regret, or at least make young people aware that they should research their schools carefully before committing to courses that are unethical and inhumane.

How you can help:

Attend or participate in a Connecticut event in honor of World Week for Animals in Laboratories. Click here to find a list of events throughout the state.

Contact your local colleges and universities to find out about their pre-medical and pre-veterinary curriculums, and their positions on the use of laboratory animals.

Read labels! The best way to stop the production of products tested on animals is to refrain from purchasing them. Visit Go Cruelty Free for a list of companies that do not use animal testing when producing their household and beauty products.

Read about PETA’s investigation into the inhumane animal testing practices of IAMS (yes, the pet food manufacturer), and send IAMS an email telling them to stop animal testing or lose business.

Visit the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine website to find out how you can help to end live animal testing in American medical schools.

Posted By: Kelli Banet
Photo Credit: Janet Stephens