Animals used in research labs — including dogs, cats, and monkeys — are forced to endure some of the most horrific cruelties imaginable. They are often condemned to short lives of terror and agony: isolated in cages, crying out in pain, and trembling in fear.
Once their bodies and spirits are broken, they are routinely killed to be dissected and inspected — their lives reduced to disposable test subjects.
The numbers are staggering: It is estimated that more than 110 million animals are used and/or killed every year in labs in the United States.
Half of Americans oppose animal research, yet many popular companies continue to test their makeup and skincare products on helpless animals — imprisoning, torturing, and killing in the name of beauty.
You can make a difference for these animals by choosing to purchase cruelty-free cosmetics, skincare, and household cleaning products.
Unfortunately, in many countries including the United States, the term “cruelty-free” is unregulated, which means that a brand may make this claim even if they do test on animals. Thus, it’s important to check independent sources that do the thorough vetting for us.
When choosing products in the store or online, look for any of the independent cruelty-free certifications, which all share a common goal of ensuring animals are not used in laboratories during production. One of the most widely trusted certification organizations is Leaping Bunny, which confirms no new animal testing for a finished product or its ingredients in the supply chain. Look for its logo on products and websites.
Here are credible online databases where you can search if a brand or product is cruelty-free:
- Cruelty Free International: a global organization that recognizes brands and meets similar standards to Leaping Bunny
- Cruelty-Free Kitty: an organization that verifies brands’ animal testing policies, focused mainly on the global beauty industry
- PETA’s Ultimate Cruelty-Free List: a list of brands who have provided a statement of assurance that they will not conduct tests on animals, nor allow their ingredients to be tested on animals
If an app is more your style, try Bunny Search! This free app is an independent aggregator of information from 9 different sources, and it tells you which brands are certified cruelty-free (or not).
With so many resources available to us, it’s easy to make the ethical choice to not fund animal testing. Together, we can work to end animal suffering in laboratories.
Sign today to promise you will only choose certified cruelty-free body and home care products, joining other compassionate people speaking out against animal experimentation. Then share this pledge with your family and friends to urge them to do the same.
