Posts published in “Brazil”

By Evelin Ortiz
Centro Universitário de Jaguariúna

Since the prehistoric era, man has maintained a relationship with animals, which were used for various purposes, such as the protection of territory, transport of cargo, hunting, and also as a source of heating in very low temperatures for man.

The interaction between man and animal is more noticeable when the animal is domesticated because they represent a source of attachment and affection.

Brazil has the largest animal population in the world, with about 106 million, ranking fourth place among other countries, being also the second largest country in the pet market. Research reports that 57% of the world population and 76% of Brazilians have at least one pet.

These data reveal the great domestication and acceptance of animals in the family environment, and being increasingly close to human beings. Brazil has the largest animal population in the world, with about 106 million, ranking fourth place among other countries, being also the second largest country in the pet market.

This fact becomes more interesting when domestic animals are used by professionals for beneficial use in the area of human health, no longer being seen only as companions, but also as physical and mental aids, serving as a very important “tool” for the current days, in which we witness many diseases around us.

Some benefits reported by researchers are: a significant decrease in psychological disorders, emotional improvement, reduction of loneliness, and the promotion of relief and comfort in moments of loss.

Furthermore, pets favor children and the elderly, and pet owners have more controlled blood pressure and stress, with less of a chance of having heart problems.

It is of great importance to point out that animals are sentient beings; that is, they feel fear, pain, stress, love, longing, and more importantly, they feel the joy that is transmitted to humans beings, so their emotional capacity is remarkable, very similar to ours.

With the passing of the time and through the process of evolution, today these incredible animals are very useful in treatments for example, assisting as guide dogs, serving as inseparable companions of the visually impaired; pet therapy, and helping in the treatment of diseases such as depression and stress.

Also, Equine-therapy with the use of horses helps disabled people, while guard dogs assist Policemen and Firemen in their most risky emergencies.

We can also mention the case of two dogs of the border-collie breed that worked to rescue people, in the tragedy that occurred in 2015 in Brazil, where the Mariana dam, located in Minas Gerais was broken; dolphins are also trained to provide therapy for autistic children.

The presence and cooperation of these animals can be seen as highly efficient, and can be considered as irreplaceable because they are capable of improving difficult
situations, providing an incentive to disadvantaged people.

Although cases of mistreatment and abandonment of these animals are still so frequent, there are good people who treat them with their due value by regarding them as family members.

Even with the difficulty of not being able to communicate verbally, these animals still have the admirable ability to accept their handlers whilst providing them with the hope of healing.

By Glenda Souza da Silva
Centro Universitário de Jaguariúna

The use of animals in scientific re search is an issue that has generated many discussion in Brazilian and global society, since the concern with animals, which are considered sentient beings; that is, capable of feeling pain and suffering, has been growing, causing conflict and doubt about its use in scientific experiments.

The big questions to be analyzed are whether there is still a need to use them for such experiments, if there are no other ways to perform the procedures and to what extent this method should be used.

Animals such as monkeys, rabbits, dogs and especially mice have been used since ancient times until present. This happens because they are considered the only ones able to promote a better explanation of how the human body works, and through them, experiments are performed to analyze the development and prophylaxis of diseases that can affect society in general.

Even with the current technological evolution, animals continue to be considered the main means of accessing such discoveries. Individuals involved with the protection of animals believe that the practice can be considered dispensable, claiming that there is great feasibility in using other research methods for the occasion.

Moreover, the interpretations of such experiments can generate failures in their conclusions since they are carried out in a certain animal species to be applied in another species, which is completely different, such as the case of the human being.

Even in the face of this polemic, many scientific research centers are still experimenting on animals with the main purpose of discovering cures for serious and lethal diseases or understanding the mechanism of the appearance of various diseases that can affect both humans and other species.

What has been done, in view of the above mentioned aspects, is in situations where there are no other forms besides the use of animals, one must use as few of them as possible to obtain valid results.

The method should be well chosen and analyzed in order not to cause pain and suffering to the animals in question, having sedative and anesthetic aid. It is of paramount importance that well-qualified professionals, so as not to cause great discomfort to the animal, develop the procedures.

Animals must be placed in appropriate locations in order to reduce stress and, where possible, must be replaced by other methods of research.

Animal experimentation, especially for scientific research, should not necessarily be banned, since the progress made through the animals in the knowledge of physiology, pharmacology and pathology would not have been possible without the use of the same for the performance of the procedures, and to this day, several diseases and their respective treatments are mostly discovered through these methods, and are considered of paramount importance for the control of diseases of the population as a whole.

What should be taken into serious account where ethics is concerned, is the proper management and provision of the best possible welfare of the animals used, in addition to inspecting whether there really is a need to use them for certain procedures.

Alternative ways should not be overlooked and studied so that soon, these animals will no longer be the main means of discovering diseases and their respective preventions, these animals can then live in a free way.