Take a few minutes to visit your favorite search engine and type in your favorite household cleaners and beauty products with this phrase: “Do Mr. Clean products test on animals?” What did you find? Try another item you use- how about your lip stick? Your laundry detergent, your sink cleaner, mascara, eye liner, nail polish, toilet cleaner….Need I go on?
As you search, you fill find lists of companies who do test on animals, those who don’t test their product on animals- but they buy (therefore supporting) their research and information from companies who do, and a small list of companies like Bath & Body Works and Germ-X - who do not test their products on animals. Is your jaw hanging open yet? Are you surprised? What percentage of items in your home have been tested on animals- or who have supported the testing/experiments on animals? Are you able to research and find alternative products/brands to replace these items- so that you are supporting companies who do not test or support testing on animals?
OPI, a nail polish brand, was purchased by a company named Coty LLC in 2010. Coty LLC supports testing on animals- therefore OPI now supports it.
Be aware, the lists that are available only show companies who test their final products on the animals- that is all that is required to report. If a company, for example, tests several ingredients that are used in their product, on animals- but yet they do not test the final product on animals- they are legally allowed to still label their products as “NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS”. So how do you know for sure?
Where are the animals coming from who are being tested on? You guessed it- animal shelters, free to good home ads, stray/homeless pets and there are also specific breeders out there who operate “farms” where they breed…and breed….and breed more innocent animals to only be used for testing. And back to the topic of animal shelters- many of them are making money on this practice as well- behind closed doors. Class B Dealers are individuals who work for testing companies and laboratories – they work with shelter directors and purchase friendly pets that they suspect will be calm during cruel experiments and tests. The shelter directors pocket the money and get the next batch of innocent animals ready to “sell”. Are your eyes wide and bulging now?
It’s the ultimate betrayal to innocent animals- to toss them aside or to breed them specifically for cruel experiments- and for what purpose? Why aren’t the products tested on humans- those who will be using the products? Why do the big tobacco companies continue to run cruel experiments on beagles to learn the effects of smoking- when we already know the answer? Why do we live in a culture that continues this shocking practice- in alarming numbers and without remorse – and no one is questioning why? How can we put an end to this unnecessary and terrible practice? How can we open the eyes of those in charge of these laboratories, schools, testing facilities and product companies- how can we convince them to change their ways?
For now, spreading awareness of the issue in addition to buying/supporting only companies who do not test on animals and do not purchase their research information from other companies who do- are some ways we can take small steps to march forward to a better future in regards to this issue. Writing letters to the companies, having petitions signs and involving local media can also raise awareness and possibly bring about change, that is much needed. The effort must be by the masses. The effort must be continued and persistent. And our dedication to this cause must be unwavering, as it won’t be an easy battle to win, but it can be done. It must be. If we want to live in a kinder world, we must address the “secret” issues in our society, such as animal experimentation. We must expose the truth and we must speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
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