Any level of suffering is obviously a concern for everyone, but tackling severe suffering should be a top priority.

Dr Penny Hawkins, RSPCA

What is ‘Severe’ Suffering?

Within the UK and the European Union, ‘severe’ procedures are those where animals used in science are likely to experience:

  • severe pain, suffering or distress
  • long-lasting moderate pain, suffering or distress, or
  • severe impairment to their wellbeing or general condition

%

of animals used in experiments worldwide experience ‘severe’ suffering

animals across the world experience severe suffering each year

procedures involving severe suffering each year within UK and EU

Progress So Far

67%

Reduction
IN EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES CAUSING SEVERE SUFFERING IN THE UK Since 2014

The Content of this website is relevant for:

THE ROADMAP TO REDUCING SEVERE SUFFERING

Culture
Analysis
Evaluation
Identify
Issues
Overcome
Obstacles
Practical aspect

Reports

Avoiding mortality

Avoiding mortality

Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE)

Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE)

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Seizures, convulsions and epilepsy

Seizures, convulsions and epilepsy

Avoiding mortality

Sepsis

Experimental

Spinal cord injury

Avoiding mortality Rheumatoid arthritis
Cardiovascular research
Avoiding mortality
Neuropathic pain
Latest

Events

RSPCA has held a series of events, bringing together hundreds of people from across the world, to share knowledge and ideas, and promote practical approaches to avoiding and reducing severe suffering

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Latest

Latest

Caring staff are key to reducing lab animal suffering, but the emotional toll can be heavy.

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Ethics

Ethics

Procedures that can cause severe suffering are of particular concern and the justification for using these deserves special scrutiny.

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