Animals in Research Facilities / 103that humans do not face the same risks. However, by confi ning ani-
mals in labs, we also make them vulnerable in ways unrelated to
the reason they are in the lab. Specifi cally, we make them vulner-
able to the same hazards that humans would face in that particu-
lar setting. If the power goes out and the ventilation system fails,
they suffer and even die. If the building fl oods, they risk death by
drowning. In the research for this chapter, I found no instances in
which people died when disasters struck research facilities, yet I
uncovered cases of thousands of animal deaths. The people have
one obvious advantage: they can leave the building. In contrast,
the animals cannot escape and, in many cases, they could not sur-
vive outside the laboratory. Putting animals in this situation raises
numerous moral questions and, clearly, many practical ones. Thus,
the true solution to the various dilemmas of animal welfare during
disasters in research facilities is simply not to have animals there
in the fi rst place.
This solution is unrealistic—but only for now. I would like to
see animal experimentation end, and although I will not likely live
long enough to see that happen, I believe it will end. The wheels are
in motion to do so. As the laboratory animal veterinarian Larry Car-
bone explains:
It may end, as American slavery did, because of shifting
political and ethical vicissitudes. It may end, as hand-setting
type did, as the technology becomes obsolete. Most likely
the two will reinforce each other. Morality and politics will
continue to spur the search for replacement technologies.
Technological advances will strengthen the moral argu-
ments against animal use. These dual processes are already
in progress.^62Meanwhile, however, the trend is to use increasing numbers of
small rodents, particularly genetically modifi ed mice. The institu-
tional thinking that requires animal models and the infrastructure
built around purpose-bred animals will not change easily or quickly.
New technologies, such as stem cell research, that may ultimately