Success: Brussels Bans Animal Testing, Saves Thousands

Target: Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region

Goal: Praise the imminent end of animal testing that harms primates, cats, dogs, and other vulnerable animals.

One of the greatest foes of animal welfare—animal testing—continues to fall around the world. This ForceChange petition detailing horrific government-funded abuses against primates and this petition detailing a death caused by university-approved testing represent a few of the many efforts that have brought needed awareness to this critical global issue. Now, thanks to such motivated initiatives, at least one country is taking these calls for reform to heart.

The thriving Brussels region of Belgium recently approved a promising measure that will once and for all abolish all primate, dog, and cat testing within the next two years. Better yet, within seven years, a region-wide ban will commence on almost all safety or education tests that exploit or kill any animal. Before the ban takes full effect, the region’s government has set another important goal: reduce the overall number of laboratory animals by 20 percent. If this ambition is met, at least 20,000 animals will have been liberated from a cruel life filled with likely torture and abuse.

Sign this petition to commend the strides made in ending animal testing thus far and to encourage continued action on one of the world’s remaining injustices.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Minister-President Vervoort,

Thank you for listening—listening to passionate individuals who have long lobbied for animal welfare and, more importantly, listening to the silenced cries of those animals already victims or survivors of inhumane testing practices. The Brussels pledge to ban many forms of animal testing within the next few years will better and save so many lives: an estimated 20,000 within seven years and countless more beyond.

While this is a monumental first step, as some of the most staunch advocates of this move have reminded, more work needs to be done. Investing in alternative technologies that can supplant and even surpass animal testing could represent another significant next step forward.

Please continue being a progressive, positive example on this issue who can inspire the rest of Belgium and the rest of the world.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Linda Bartlett