The Grim Reaper of Rodents

When meeting new people, the question of “What do you do for a living?” will come up. I answer, “I’m a researcher in neurobiology, I look into how the connections are built between neurons”. Then I internally cringe slightly, and wait for the follow up questions, that sometimes lead to “So where do you get the neurons from?”. The fact that I perform animal experiments is not something I like to advertise. I have on more than one occasion, been vehemently attacked for abusing animals because I perform biological research. In my opinion, animal experimentation does not always equate to abuse, but given the latest vitriol that has been tossed my way, I am starting to have my doubts. As scientists we use the word sacrifice, to describe when an animal is killed.  Are we hiding behind a word to hide the fact that as scientists, we are all grim reapers?

My research involves the use of rodents (mice and rats), and they do not retire after my experiments are done, they expire. I do not relish in the fact that their lives are lost for my work. I like rodents, and have even had them as pets – mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters. 

As a scientist, I am prone to doing literature searches, so as a consequence, I have been looking at the 'other' side (ie. reading about PETA and animal rights blogs), and taking their arguments seriously.  As a tool for self-reflection, I think it is a worthwhile exercise.  Although prone to sensationalism, these blogs do tell truths. For example, from PETA:

“More than 100 million mice and rats are killed in U.S. laboratories every year. But even though these animals feel pain and suffer as much as dogs, cats, and rabbits do, they are excluded from the meager federal Animal Welfare Act provisions that extend at least some protection to these other species. Because mice and rats are not protected by the law, experimenters don't even have to provide them with pain relief. “

These statements are correct. But I think they miss one point. Even though something may not be required by law -- to provide pain relief, or respect the fact that they are social animals and should not be caged alone -- it does not mean that we as scientists, do not strive to provide it. We are still human, and have heart-strings pulled by those cute furry little guys. 

My goal has been to treat all of my mice and rats with compassion – mice kept together as small groups for social interaction, actions taken when signs of stress or illness are seen, etc. I have even added toys for enrichment, although not required for experimental outcome. Okay, sometimes they were tubes from the spent paper towel rolls, and hand-made paper balls, or ice cubes. But because I have had rodents as pets, I remembered what they liked to play with and acted accordingly, and automatically. And in my experience, there is an incentive to keeping you rodents happy, outside of the innate desire to treat  animals kindly. Although not scientifically tested, happy mice have good neurons, which in turn, are good for my experiments, which means I don’t need to repeat them more than necessary, and that means there is less need for me to kill.

During my career, I have personally been responsible for killing both rats and mice, in what is considered a humane way:  with as little stress or pain possible. That means never killing mice in front of each other (seriously, the horror!), and a lethal dose of sedative before any surgery is started. I then try to make use of every neuron in worthwhile experiments, and hope that the results from those experiments help the greater good of obtaining knowledge; and that in whole karmic balance of the universe, I will be forgiven for being a grim reaper of rodents. 

Turns out I am not alone in this view of karmic balance. To paraphrase his holiness the Dali Lama, when asked at a neuroscience conference if he thought animal experiments were in line with Buddhist beliefs, he replied “Buddhist belief is about searching for knowledge. If animal experiment brings knowledge, okay. But should it also respect the animal, use as few animals as possible, and without pain”.

Is animal experimentation inevitable? In my opinion, yes. Computer models or data mining will NEVER replace my research which looks at fundamental mechanisms. Simply put, we cannot predict that which we do not know. Can I apply the ideals of compassion and respect to the animals that I use? Yes, even if it does mean going above and beyond what is legally required for the humane treatment of animals. Does this mean I can now ignore animal rights activists? No. As a proponent of the rights of animals, they are likely to bring forth new evidence, new ideas about how to keep animals, and help me to find new ways to treat my mice and rats with the due care and respect they deserve. And by funding research into animal-free tools for scientists, these animal activists "put their money where their mouth is", and at least a few more rodents will be able to get away from grim reapers like me. And that, makes me happy.