The Truth about Rats & Neuroscience Labs

To the Editors:

As past participants in Neuroscience 211 (as well as other Neuroscience Biology labs), we would like to point out several inaccuracies in the letter “ Stop the Inhumanity: Save the Rats” (Nov 15). This letter states, “ fully conscious rats will have their heads cut open …[and] following the completion of these actions,the rats will be killed.”
The rats are deeply anesthetized when any surgery is performed, and the neuroscience faculty ensures that the rats are fully unconscious before the students operate on them (though they are still alive, they cannot feel any pain). Second of all, the rats do not have their heads cut open. A tiny hole is drilled into the skull, and an electrode is inserted into this hole. Although the letter is not altogether wrong in stating that the rats are killed after the experiment is over their death is not arbitrary. Following the procedure, the rats are all returned to their cages, where their skin heals over and the electrode often falls off. These rats are either used in other experiments, or they are donated to the zoo or to the Raptor Center, where they are fed to snakes or injured birds.
This letter is not an attack on the philosophy of animal rights advocates. We merely ask that before broadcasting your opinion on an issue please take the time to research the subject. It is up to each individual to decide his or her opinion on the issue, but it is our responsibility to ensure that the information we present in support of our argument is correct. (This goes for any protesting that takes place on campus.)

–Katrina Wright
College senior

–Ayo-Lynn Richards
College senior

–Dan Winetsky
College junior