Millions of innocent animals are abused, tortured, confined and eventually killed to determine the “safety” of products. Substances ranging from eye shadow and soap to furniture polish and oven cleaner are tested on rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, dogs, and other animals. However there are alternatives to animal testing.

Eye Irritancy Tests
In these tests, a liquid, flake, granule, or powdered substance is dropped into the eyes of a group of albino rabbits. The animals are often immobilized in stocks from which only their heads protrude. They usually receive no anesthesia during the tests. After the chemicals have been drooped in to the animal’s eye they are often left there for up to three days to determine the affects of the chemicals over time. The results of eye irritancy tests are questionable, as they vary from laboratory to laboratory-and even from rabbit to rabbit.
Acute Toxicity Tests
These tests are often called lethal dose tests there job is to determine the amount of a substance that will kill a percentage, even up to 100 percent, of a group of test animals. The chemicals are administered by feeding them to the animal or a hole cut into the animal’s neck. It may also be injected into the body with needles. Experimenters observe the animals' reactions, which can include convulsions, labored breathing, diarrhea, constipation, emaciation, skin eruptions, abnormal posture, and bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth. No law requires these tests to take place. However most companies conduct these tests to prevent lawsuits by people who have had an allergic reaction to their product.

Sam Azevedo

For more information on alternatives to animal testing please visit stopanimaltests.
For a complete list of companies that conduct animal tests visit peta

References : Orlans, F. Barbara, "Data on Animal Experimentation in the United States: What They Do and Do Not Show," Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 37, 2. Winter 1994 Peta.com and caringsonsumer.com Hsus.com