What is animal testing?
Understanding Animal Testing
At Save The Buns, Inc., we believe it’s important for people to have clear, accurate information about how animals are used in research and testing. While animal testing has been used for decades to study medicine, cosmetics, and chemicals, it raises several concerns that are worth understanding.
What Animal Testing Involves
Animal testing typically involves using animals such as rabbits, mice, rats, and other species to observe how substances affect living organisms. This may include:
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Testing the safety of new medications or consumer products
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Studying diseases and developing treatments
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Observing the effects of chemicals or environmental exposures
A wide range of animals are used in research settings. The most commonly used species include mice and rats due to their size, short lifespans, and well-understood genetics. Rabbits are also frequently used, particularly in toxicology and irritation studies. Other animals may include guinea pigs, fish, birds, and, in some cases, larger animals such as pigs, dogs, or non-human primates, depending on the research goals.
Animal testing takes place across several different fields:
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Pharmaceutical research: Animals are used to study how new drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the body, and to evaluate safety and effectiveness before human clinical trials.
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Academic research: Universities and research institutions use animals to study basic biology, genetics, and disease processes, thereby expanding scientific knowledge.
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Toxicology and safety testing: This includes evaluating medications, chemicals, household products, and industrial substances to determine potential risks to human health and the environment.
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Medical and disease research: Animals may be used to model human diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurological conditions to better understand disease progression and explore potential treatments.
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Regulatory testing: Some animal studies are conducted to meet government requirements for product approval or safety standards.
In many cases, animals are bred specifically for research and housed in controlled laboratory environments. Depending on the type of study, procedures can range from minimally invasive observations to more involved interventions. Animals may be given substances through injection, ingestion, inhalation, or topical application to monitor how their bodies respond over time.
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Photo credit: Save The Buns, Inc.
Some studies require repeated handling, blood collection, or imaging, while others may involve surgical procedures or the induction of specific health conditions to better understand disease progression. Animals are often closely monitored for changes in behavior, weight, and overall health, and data are collected to evaluate the safety or effectiveness of a substance or treatment.
Housing conditions can vary, but animals are typically kept in standardized enclosures designed for consistency in research. While this helps control variables in studies, it can also limit natural behaviors such as roaming, digging, or social interaction, depending on the species and study design.
Common Concerns
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How you can learn more
At Save The Buns, we aim to provide resources and support for people interested in compassionate choices:
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Explore cruelty-free and vegan products
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Support organizations that advocate for humane science
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Educate yourself and others about the latest developments in alternatives to animal testing
With greater awareness, we can choose paths that prioritize both scientific progress and animal welfare.
Life in a laboratory can cause stress and discomfort for animals, affecting their physical and emotional well-being. However, these environments can also be challenging for the people who care for or work with them, including scientists, veterinarians, and lab technicians, as they navigate the demands and responsibilities of their roles.
For more information on the effects on humans, or to access support if you are impacted, visit:
Even though animal testing has contributed to scientific knowledge, there are several points of concern:
Animal Welfare
Animals used in testing can experience stress, pain, or long-term health effects. Housing, handling, and experimental procedures can impact their well-being.
Ethical Considerations
Many people question whether it is ethical to use sentient beings in experiments, especially when alternatives may exist.
Scientific Limitations
Results from animals don’t always accurately predict human reactions. Biological differences between species can limit the reliability of some studies.
Alternatives are Growing
New approaches, such as in vitro testing, computer modeling, and human tissue research, are being developed. These alternatives can reduce or replace the need for animal testing in certain areas.
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How rabbits are typically used in research
In this picture: a rabbit restrainer, a common device used in animal testing to limit a rabbit’s movement during procedures such as injections, blood draws, or dosing, keeping the animal immobilized while the task is performed.
Photo credit: Save The Buns, Inc.
While these practices are part of long-standing research systems, they often mean that rabbits live in environments very different from what they need to thrive—without space to run, dig, or express natural behaviors, and with limited social interaction.
Rabbits have historically been used in a variety of research and testing settings due to their size, gentle nature, and certain biological traits. Some common examples include:
Eye and skin irritation testing: Rabbits have been used to assess how substances affect sensitive tissues, particularly in studies evaluating irritation or corrosion.
Toxicology studies: Rabbits may be exposed to chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or other substances to observe potential health effects, dosage safety, and toxicity levels.
Antibody production: Rabbits are often used in biomedical research to produce antibodies, as their immune systems generate strong responses that can be studied and utilized in laboratories.
Disease research: In some cases, rabbits are used as models to study specific diseases or conditions, helping researchers understand how illnesses develop and how treatments might work.
Pyrogen testing (historically): Rabbits were traditionally used to detect fever-causing contaminants in medical products by monitoring changes in body temperature after injection. While alternative methods are now more common, this practice has been part of past research use.
Veterinary Universities and Research Programs
Rabbits are used in some veterinary universities and PhD research programs for educational training and biomedical research. This can include studies involving infectious disease, immunology, surgery, reproductive medicine, vaccine development, and medical therapies, as well as training in animal handling and clinical procedures
The Three R’s
A Perspective from Save The Buns
In animal research, the "Three R’s—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement"-are widely recognized principles that guide efforts toward more ethical scientific practices. They focus on seeking alternatives to animal use, minimizing the number of animals involved, and refining procedures to reduce pain and distress.
At Save The Buns, we’ve taken this concept and applied our own approach: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome.
Rescue
We provide a pathway for rabbits to transition out of research settings and into environments where they can receive individualized care and attention.
Rehabilitate
Some rabbits arrive with medical or behavioral needs. Through proper veterinary care, nutrition, and supportive handling, we work to help them adjust and recover.
Rehome
Our goal is to place each rabbit into a suitable, permanent home. We carefully match them with adopters who are prepared to meet their needs and provide long-term care.
While the traditional Three R’s address practices within research, our approach focuses on supporting rabbits beyond that point—helping them move forward into stable and caring homes.
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Where the Three R’s guide research practices, our approach guides rabbits beyond the lab, helping them transition into the next chapter of their lives.
What does animal rights mean to us?
Our approach to animal rights
When people hear the term 'animal rights,' their reactions can vary. Some feel encouraged and want to learn more, while others may feel unsure and threatened
At Save The Buns, Inc., we proudly identify as an animal rights and advocacy-based non-profit. To us animal rights is about...
Compassion
Collaboration
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Creating Positive Solutions
Peaceful & Positive: We believe change happens through kindness and cooperation. While we do not support animal testing, we work with laboratories to create safe pathways for animals to be released, then adopted or placed in our sanctuary.
Education & outreach: Instead of focusing on protests, we share knowledge, raise awareness, and take direct action through rescue efforts.
Professional & Ethical: Every partnership we form is handled with respect, confidentiality, and full compliance with the law.
Network
Collaboration
Rescue/Release
Adoption/Sanctuary
At the heart of our mission is one guiding belief: speaking up for animals is about giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. It's an act of compassion that benefits animals of every kind.
How We Work With Laboratories
At Save The Buns, Inc., our partnerships with laboratories are built on trust and mutual respect. While our views on animal testing do not align, we focus on a shared goal: providing an alternative pathway to euthanasia for rabbits whenever possible.
By maintaining open communication and a cooperative approach, we are able to offer care and adoption options for rabbits that might otherwise face euthanasia. These relationships allow us to create positive outcomes for animals while respecting the responsibilities and regulations of the facilities we work with.
"We may not share the same views, but we share the same opportunity—to give rabbits a life beyond the laboratory". -Save The Buns, Inc.
Veganism
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At Save The Buns, Inc., veganism is about promoting compassion and respect for all animals. Choosing a vegan lifestyle means seeking alternatives to animal products in food, clothing, and other areas of life whenever possible, supporting a way of living that values the well-being of all creatures.
For us, veganism reflects the belief that every animal—rabbits, farm animals, pets, and wildlife—deserves care, consideration, and respect. It complements our work rescuing and rehoming rabbits, guiding us toward a vision where sentient beings are appreciated for their lives rather than their utility.
Living vegan is one way individuals can make compassionate choices in everyday life, helping reduce suffering and promoting a deeper awareness of the connections between humans and animals.
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