USING OUR NON-HUMAN FRIENDS
Regardless of perspective, animals have made vital contributions to medical research. Does science have an obligation to consider their well-being?
PLEASE NOTE: Images and descriptions displayed in this museum may be disturbing for some viewers.
Discretion advised.
HORSESHOE CRABS & VACCINE RESEARCH
Known for their bright blue blood that is sensitive to endotoxins, horseshoe crabs are utilized in medical research to prevent vaccination contamination. However, improper usage of horseshoe crabs has led to a significant decrease in their population.
[image: Green Queen, 2020. Horseshoe Crab Blood Collection for Vaccine Contamination Tests]
HORSESHOE CRAB HARVESTING, REGULATIONS, AND UPDATES
Horseshoe crabs have been harvested for their blood for a great amount of time. How have protections been put in place to protect their species and what alternatives have been created?
[Image: SCDNR - Horseshoe Crabs. (N.D.) Illustration of anatomy of horseshoe crabs.]
CATS CAN HANDLE IT
Cats were a popular animal for conducting neurological research on before 1985, due to their ability to withstand extensive surgeries. Many were spared after regulations and negative public opinion on experimentation of companion animals began to rise.
[MacLean, J.B. and Leffman H.,1967. Fig. 1. Diagram to show site of stimulation an recording in the Supraspinal control of Renshaw Cells Experiment.]
NEURALINK
Neuralink's groundbreaking neurosurgery breakthrough targets paralysis, but ethical concerns trigger a review, emphasizing transparency, especially in animal testing and the ethical use of materials like Bioglue.
[Image: Rory Cellan Jones, BBC, 2020. Elon Musk Standing next to the Neuralink Surgical Robot]
BEAGLE TRIALS: PESTICIDE TESTING ON BEAGLES
Pesticide testing on Beagles has been a contentious issue in the United States for decades, with supporters claiming it is important to verify pesticide safety and detractors claiming it is immoral and causes unnecessary suffering to the dogs.
[Image: Beaglepro, (2016), A Beagle being held in a cage]
SURGICAL CASTRATION IN THE
AMERICAN PORK INDUSTRY
An examination of the physiological impacts of surgical piglet castration in the American pork industry. Highlighting the historical lack of pain management and prioritization of economic efficiency over animal well-being.
[Image: ResearchGate (2013), Jeffery Taubenberger — A historical photograph showing a densely packed herd of pigs within a muddy stockyard or pen. A solitary man stands and looks over the pen.]
SILENCE: SECRECY OF LIVE TISSUE
TRAINING
Live Tissue Trauma Training, also known as LTT, is performed on mainly pigs and Goats, who have been inflicted with various wounds to train medical personnel. However, there is a distinct lack of effective reporting on the specifics of how these exercises are conducted.
Brown, Keith. “Victory! No More Live Animals Will Be Shot in Military Trauma Training Drills | PETA.” PETA, 19 Dec. 2025, A Pig being operated on.
ANTIVENOM: SAVING LIVES AT A COST
Saving lives from deadly venom comes at a hidden cost. One that depends on the repeated use and suffering of animals, raising urgent ethical questions about the future of medicine.
[Image: Kini, 2018. Diagram compares traditional horse-based antivenom with newer lab-made antivenom, showing the lab method is safer and more effective.]
