PETA and its international affiliates put their money where their mouths are—or, rather, put their donors' money where the animals' mouths are, to spare animals from being force-fed and otherwise poisoned with toxic chemicals in experiments. PETA and its affiliates have now provided more than $1 million to fund the development and implementation of non-animal research methods.

Testing doesn’t need to involve torture.

 
One recent recipient of a grant provided by PETA through the generous support of the McGrath Family Foundation is the International QSAR Foundation, which is developing sophisticated computer models that can replace the use of animals for carcinogenicity testing. In experiments to test the cancer-causing potential of a single chemical, more than 400 animals are forced to ingest chemicals for one to two years before they are killed.

PETA U.K. has also provided funds to support skin irritation testing methods that don't use animals. The PETA U.K.–funded method is now accepted for use internationally in place of painful tests on rabbits. PETA U.K. is now funding research to validate non-animal skin allergy tests, which are commonly performed on guinea pigs and mice to test cosmetics and other chemicals. This breakthrough is especially timely since beginning in 2013, cosmetics that have been tested on animals cannot be marketed in the European Union.

Tim Mitchell, president of CeeTox, Inc., says:

Even in these economic hard times, it is critical that we continue funding the development of non-animal testing methods as a sure-fire way to get animals out of laboratories. If you would like to contribute to this effort, you can target your donation here.

 
Written by Michelle Sherrow

Back in December, we announced the winners of our annual "Proggy" awards, which recognize animal-friendly people, companies, and products. One of those companies is CeeTox, a Michigan firm that develops humane alternatives to cruel and archaic animal tests. Well, the good folks at the Kalamazoo Gazette just did a nice story about CeeTox and the award. Check it out here.

What CeeTox does is so great because many chemical-testing methods still involve pumping substances into animals' stomachs and lungs and dripping chemicals into animals' eyes or onto their raw, shaved skin. CeeTox, by contrast, uses in-vitro (test tube) toxicity screening to test drugs, chemicals, cosmetics, and consumer products. This enables research and development organizations to assess the toxicity of chemicals using pioneering and humane cell-based technology.

Besides being kind to animals, these modern, non-animal tests are cheaper, faster, and more accurate. What's not to like? Well, unfortunately, the wheels of progress grind slowly at the EPA, which lags far behind European authorities in validating modern test methods. But thanks to the work of CeeTox and other companies like it, it's becoming obvious that animal testing is long overdue for the old heave-ho.

Written by Alisa Mullins