Animal experiments are scientific experiments on or with living animals. We also speak of laboratory animals. The aims of animal experiments are to gain knowledge in basic research and to develop and test new medical therapy options. Research with laboratory animals is carried out in universities and research institutions, pharmaceutical companies and service providers. Most animals are bred specifically for research purposes, but very few are caught for this purpose. It is estimated that in 2005 between 58 and 115 million vertebrates were used for animal experiments worldwide - mainly breeding forms of domestic mice and migrating rats, but also hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, dogs and primates. Animal experiments are useful, no doubt. (Wikipdia "Tierversuche", transl.)
On the othrer hand our ethic sensitiveness has a high level today. Animals are part of creation and need protection to keep them from suffering or being killed. I think we should have a strong movement of critics of animal experiments. It could be that some RG members have to do with animal experimentens in research, and also their opinion is important in discussion about such subject.
This discussion has been continuing for decades and has resulted in most "western" countries in new sets of laws that govern quite strictly the conditions under which animal experiments can be carried out. I recommend you study these laws in the U.K. and Germany, for example. They may not have profoundly changed the experimental procedures (since before their passing, national research support boards, auch as the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft did not approve or finance any non-ethical procedures), but they have formalized things and perhaps made them more uniform. Human society has always been knowledge-based and especially human and animal medicine has profited enormously from knowledge gained through ethically-supported experiments on animals. While these experiments will never be acceptable for certain people and therefore continually be questioned, society has established new norms that, like any other laws, deserve respect. Humans are the only animals that are in a position to consider the possible pain and suffering of other organisms and this has been discussed at great length. In Nature, predators have no such respect, which is, of course, completely normal.
I have to say I am a bit troubled when you say "animals are part of creation". What do you mean by that?
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