Call us now:
Advocating for the End of Animal Research in Canada Since 1990.
We must end the use of dogs and cats in unethical research, testing, and education. This amendment is a critical first step toward ending the use of all animals in research and advancing human-relevant science across Canada.
3,706,907
Total Number of Animals
Used in Science in Canada
in 2024
49,357
Dogs and Cats Used
in Science in Canada
in the Last 3 Years
205
# of CCAC Certified Institutions that Report Animals Used
Unknown
# of Research Facilities in Canada Conducting Animal Testing but Don’t Report
Meet the Advisory Group
Dr. Andrew Fenton, PhD
Professor, Department of Philosophy; and Law, Justice and Society Program, Dalhousie University
Prof. Vaughan Black (Retired)
Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University
Dr. Zahra Kassam, MBBS MSc FRCPC DipABLM
Staff Radiation Oncologist, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stronach Regional Cancer Centre, Southlake Regional Health Centre; and Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto
Dr. Olivier Berreville, PhD
Biologist; Scientific Advisor, Canadians for the Ethical Treatment of Farmed Animals; Canadian National Contact for the International Network for Humane Education
Troy Seidle
President, Animal Alliance of Canada Fund
Dr. Aysha Akhtar, M.D., M.P.H
Neurologist; and Co-Founder, CEO, President of the Center for Contemporary Sciences
L. Syd M Johnson, PhD, HEC-C
Center for Bioethics & Humanities, State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Dr. Irina Ghenea, MD, CFPC
Physician, Family Medicine, Nova Scotia
Dr. Robert C. Jones, PhD
Professor of Philosophy, California State University, Dominguez Hills
Dr. Elena Contreras, DVM, MS, PhD
Associate Professor, Animal Welfare and Behavior Rowan University, Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine
Prof. Andrew Knight, BSc, BVMS, MANZCVS, DipWCAWBM, DACAW, PhD, MRCVS, SFHEA
Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University; and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University
Dr. Margaret Robinson, PhD
Associate Professor of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Dalhousie University
Eric Ocelewski
CTO; and Co-Founder, Pi and Power Inc.
Angela Fernandez
Professor (Law & History) & Director Animal Law Program, University of Toronto
Position Statement: Moving Beyond the 3Rs Framework in Animal Research
For over six decades, the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—have formed the cornerstone of animal welfare policy in research. The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique originally represented a progressive step to minimize animal suffering. However, the scientific landscape and public ethical expectations have evolved dramatically since 1959. A more robust framework is needed—one that goes beyond minimizing harm to questioning animal use, prioritizing human-relevant research methods, and ensuring transparency and accountability.
This position statement from Animal Alliance of Canada and the Advisory Group on Humane Science makes the case for a fundamentally new approach: one that treats animal use as a last resort, mandates modern non-animal methods, and establishes independent, transparent oversight. By embracing a modernized framework beyond the 3Rs, policymakers can ensure that research conducted adheres to the highest ethical standards and produces high-quality, human-relevant results. This will safeguard public confidence in science and demonstrate moral leadership.
Dr. Andrew Fenton
