Animal Rights in Research and Research Application

Abstract

The concept of animal rights is discussed and distinguished from animal welfare. A brief history of attitudes to animal sentience and welfare is followed by contemporary activity in protecting animals used in research. Differences between countries in the legal protection of animals used in research in the Western world are covered, as are the movements active in campaigning for animal rights and/or welfare. Finally, debates about which species are covered by legal protection in research are discussed, drawing attention to the current inconsistencies regarding which invertebrates should be included in ethical guidelines for research and which need not be so protected.