News

Published: 17 April 2025

The European Animal Research Association (EARA), a European umbrella organisation representing proponents of animal experiments, launched a campaign aimed at justifying and perpetuating the use of dogs in biomedical research. This initiative stands in stark contrast to the global scientific and ethical movement calling for a reduction in animal experimentation and the replacement of such practices with modern, Non-Animal Methods (NAMs). Since the majority of biomedical research and safety testing on animals is conducted for human purposes, NAMs offer improved relevance to human biology. Especially in the case of species such as dogs and primates, broad efforts are underway to phase out their use in scientific research as swiftly as possible.

In an open statement, the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE), categorically rejects this campaign and addresses each of its claims. The coalition of European animal welfare and anti-vivisection organisations argues that the majority of the public opposes animal experiments on dogs. Undercover investigations at various laboratories have revealed dogs being kept in appalling conditions and subjected to cruel and unlawful treatment.

Most striking, however, are the scientific arguments against using dogs in biomedical research and testing. Results from experiments on dogs cannot be reliably translated to humans. Dogs are neither suitable for identifying toxic substances relevant to human health, nor can they serve as reliable models for human diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), heart rhythm disease, or age-related illnesses. Instead, human-relevant non-animal methods (NAMs)—such as microphysiological systems and research involving human data, including genetic analyses—must be adopted.