22 April 2013

Poll Shows Majority Opposed to Controversial “Party Pills” Testing on Animals

As the government calls for public submissions on the psychoactive substances (“legal highs”) bill, New Zealand’s leading animal advocates SAFE, the RNZSPCA and the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS) say a new poll shows the strength of feeling against recreational drug testing on animals.

According to a recent survey conducted by Horizon Research, only a minority (14.8%) of adult New Zealanders conditionally support animal testing of psychoactive substances, like “party pills”.

SAFE, RNZSPCA and NZAVS say the poll results reflect the strong opposition New Zealanders feel to these tests. With nearly 20,000 signatures on the petition to parliament already, it is clear most people do not want to see dogs and rats suffering for experiments that are neither necessary nor ethically acceptable.

SAFE Campaign Manager Mandy Carter says, “Animal tests would involve suffering and cruelty for both large and small animals such as dogs and rats, and would lead to pain, distress and death. We need the government to step up and make sure it includes a specific clause prohibiting animal testing.”

NZAVS spokesperson Stephen Manson says, “We have made publicly available advice received from overseas toxicologists that animal tests are not required for testing these recreational drugs and nor are they the best way to test them. There is no excuse for the use of animal testing.”

“That such tests on animals for this purpose is abhorrent’, says Bob Kerridge, National President, Royal New Zealand SPCA. “Any suggestion that animals should be used to test these pleasure drugs to satisfy humans must not be allowed to occur, and our voices of discontent must be heard.”

The public have until the 1st May deadline to make submissions and sign the paper and online petitions. Petitions can also be signed in Body Shop stores. For more details, visit leaveanimalsout.org.nz

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