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Save Bunnies From Being Blinded in Laboratories

Until recently, many people thought that "animal testing" meant shampooing rabbits' fur or putting cleansing cream on their whiskers. Of course, it means nothing of the sort. Every year, millions of animals are used to test cosmetics, toiletries such as toothpaste and shampoo, and household detergents and other cleaners.

Rabbits are immobilised and their eyes are held open with clips while workers drip caustic chemicals into their eyes and record the results ?which, predictably, include swelling, burning, blistering and blindness. Guinea pigs and other animals are shaved, and workers put irritating chemicals on their bare skin, leaving them on for days. In "lethal dose" tests, testers force-feed everything from detergent to eye shadow to rats, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs and other animals until a percentage of them die.

In addition to being cruel, these tests are inaccurate, as animals' bodies are different from humans' and therefore react differently to various substances.

There is no need to abuse and kill animals for cosmetics. There are more than 600 companies internationally which have stopped torturing animals with painful, useless tests. Alternatives to animal testing ?including computer-based tests and cell cultures ?are cheaper and produce faster, more accurate results. Companies can also use ingredients that have already been proved to be harmless ?and/or natural ingredients which are known to be safe. There are also a lot of companies ?such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Lakme, GlaxoSmithKline and others ?which have still not stopped testing on animals.

If you have animal-tested products in your bathroom or kitchen cabinets, mail them back to the companies that made them. Tell the companies you disagree with animal tests and find their products "unsatisfactory". Some companies may send you a refund. Here is a sample letter:

Dear [Name],

I am returning this bottle of [name of product] because I find it unsatisfactory now that I know your company tests on animals. Until you stop testing on animals, my family has decided not to buy any more [name of company] products. We will buy cruelty-free products instead. Please send me a full refund, and please stop testing on animals.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]