Universities are the biggest users of lab animals.
Animal research is also carried out by pharmaceutical companies and the Government. Wherever lab animals are kept, it is animal technologists who look after them.
We work with independent Government inspectors who check the animals are properly looked after and cared for.
If you were a trainee animal technologist you would learn how to clean the animals' cages and pens. You would then learn how to handle the animals properly - so they feel comfortable and secure. You would also learn how to tell if an animal is sick or unhappy. (Did you know that if a rat's tail gets waxy it might mean that the animal is bored?)

How do you know if your pet is ill or bored?

Animal technologists go to college to study animal biology and breeding. We learn how to look after many different types of animal. We have to pass exams to prove we are good enough at our job to work directly with the animals.
Some people say that we should not use animals in laboratories. These people claim the work is unnecessary and say we don't need new medicines (we disagree). Sometimes extremists try to frighten us by attacking our laboratories and homes and even say we are cruel to our animals. This is not true. Caring for animals is our job, we do it all day every day, and we are very good at it. We care very much about our animals. We are always trying to find ways of replacing animal tests and of using fewer animals in laboratories.

Do you look after any animals - how would you feel if anyone said you were cruel to them?