is necessary to examine (1) the goals and philosophies of those active in the animal rights and animal welfare movements, and (2) the uses to which animals are applied and the philosophies underlying such uses. The experimental uses to which animals are applied in this country, together with the philosophies underlying such uses, are considered in the following section, after which, the goals and philosophies of those active in the animal protection movement are examined.
When most Americans think of animal rights and animal welfare, they think of the use of animals in biomedical research, or they think of fur seals. Animals are, however, used for many other purposes, and, depending upon one's perspective, these uses are either justified or unjustified.
Approximately 17 million animals are used each year in the United States in laboratory experiments. Biomedical researchers justify this use by stating that it "is necessary to advance human health care à ." (Zak, 1989, p. 69).
...