Animals are very important in our lives:
Pigs, sheep, cows and chickens provide food.
Sheep dogs and police horses help people do their jobs.
Guide and hearing dogs help people with disabilities.
Pets keep us company. Many people enjoy going horse racing or visiting wildlife parks.

Do you know anyone who works with animals?

Laboratory Animals including rats, mice, rabbits, dogs and monkeys help Scientists and doctors first discover new human and animal medicines, and then test that the medicines are safe and effective.

Do you think what animals do is important in your life?

Doctors and vets can choose from many good medicines to prescribe to their patients - and all of them have been developed with the help of lab animals. Asthma, eczema and inherited illnesses such as muscular dystrophy, can make life very hard for patients. In developing countries many adults and children die from malaria and typhoid. Parasite infections can make people and animals very ill. So we still need new and better medicines to help sick people and animals.
Strict laws control how we use lab animals. UK law also says that new medicines must be tested on animals before they are given to sick people or sick animals.

Animal Technologists are trained to look after lab animals properly. They ensure the animals are healthy and happy, and have the right food and living conditions. To be an animal technologist you must have a special relationship with animals.

Do you know anyone who is ill?

Do you ever take medicine?

Do you agree we need more medicines?

Do you ever give your pets medicines?