Siri Martinsen successfully completed her degree at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science using only alternatives to harmful animal use. She is now a practicing veterinarian and manages an animal rescue centre. Alina Bodnariu from Romania helped replace thousands of animal experiments at the Veterinary Faculty in Bucharest and has now begun further studies to progress animal welfare and alternatives in her country.

The Norwegian campaigner for alternatives is the first veterinarian in her country to graduate humanely and without the harmful use of animals. She explained why this should now become the norm rather than the exception: “Full replacement through advanced computer software, ethical dissections and clinical work with animal patients is not only possible but is necessary for a veterinary education in accordance with animal ethics. Instead of physiology and pharmacology experiments on animals, I used a combination of self-experimentation and computer simulations. And dissections of animals that have died from injury or disease rather than of healthy animals killed just for education could be achieved for whole classes just as it was achieved for me.”

She added: “When explaining these alternatives to fellow students, they felt that the alternatives would have been far better than the animal experiments which they felt obliged to attend. There was no doubt that combinations of modern learning tools successfully met the teaching objectives of the practical courses in my degree, and better prepared me for the veterinary profession. As a conscientious objector I am relieved to have at last gained my degree, and I believe this shows a willingness from the School to admit that a veterinary education can in fact be completely free from harmful animal use.”

Facing more difficulties in her studies, Alina Bodnariu is now struggling to make education for future Romanian veterinarians ethical and animal friendly: “I helped establish a multimedia lab for my faculty, and supported the production of new physiology software that has replaced the annual use of over 1000 animal experiments, many of which involved severe procedures. But much of the education is far from humane, with many other experiments still being performed, and horses and other animals being killed for anatomy studies. Resistance to modernisation from ‘old school’ authoritarian teachers, as well as financial difficulties, are major challenges for Romania. But there is definitely a growing interest in and movement towards a better quality veterinary education.”(source (http://www.interniche.org/news.html))

I thought it was uplifting to read (here (http://www.interniche.org/consh/c-sir.html)) about the great lengths that she went to in order to stick to her AR values during her education.

Cool article. I remember when the whole "anti-dissection" movement happened in the late 1980's. Dr. Elliot Katz and his associates at In Defense of Animals helped alot of students. I also think I remember Dr. Katz helping veterinary students find schools which would support their values of not using animals.

I'm a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and, in my experience, if given the option, students prefer not to use animals. All it takes is a leader to show that there are options out there.

For example, at one class I went to in wildlife rehab, the instructor asked us to "sub-Q" a live pigeon. A sub-Q is a simple proceedure where water is injected under the skin. It's relatively painless, but I did not feel comfortable putting a perfectly healthy animal through that stress. I refused and asked for an alternative. As an alternative, I sub-Qed dead birds. The students around me were in shock! They couldn't believe that I questioned the proceedure, but one by one, they all agreed with me and followed my lead.

:up:

Cool article. I remember when the whole "anti-dissection" movement happened in the late 1980's. Dr. Elliot Katz and his associates at In Defense of Animals helped alot of students. I also think I remember Dr. Katz helping veterinary students find schools which would support their values of not using animals.

I'm a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and, in my experience, if given the option, students prefer not to use animals. All it takes is a leader to show that there are options out there.

For example, at one class I went to in wildlife rehab, the instructor asked us to "sub-Q" a live pigeon. A sub-Q is a simple proceedure where water is injected under the skin. It's relatively painless, but I did not feel comfortable putting a perfectly healthy animal through that stress. I refused and asked for an alternative. As an alternative, I sub-Qed dead birds. The students around me were in shock! They couldn't believe that I questioned the proceedure, but one by one, they all agreed with me and followed my lead.
bravo!

Yessssss! Thank you for this info. There is hope.

That's awesome!!! :up:

So good to see someone finding a way to embracing an occupation and finding a way around the standard (harmful) procedures. What an amazing influence she must be on so many others.

Ok, now I'll read the article again with more care -- I have to take this all in. :)

For example, at one class I went to in wildlife rehab, the instructor asked us to "sub-Q" a live pigeon. A sub-Q is a simple proceedure where water is injected under the skin. It's relatively painless, but I did not feel comfortable putting a perfectly healthy animal through that stress. I refused and asked for an alternative. As an alternative, I sub-Qed dead birds. The students around me were in shock! They couldn't believe that I questioned the proceedure, but one by one, they all agreed with me and followed my lead.

Way to go Bill. What an uplifting thread!!! It just goes to show that our actions and words do have a powerful effect.

That's great!

Back when I was applying for vet school (I never did get in :lol:), at the interview I questioned them about the use of animals. Apparently the school I was applying only used animals that had been euthanised and surrended by their owners for the student's use. There were some non-invasive procedures performed on larger animals, such as cows, but there were very strict rules about how much time had to pass before another procedure could be done, depending on the severity of the previous one (blood tests, if I remember correctly, required a 48 hour rest period).

I did look into other colleges - one would deliberately harm animals so the students could fix them :think: Seems rather contradictory to me. Needless to say, I didn't apply.

At the least, teaching schools should limit their animal use and when animals are used, it should be in the most humane way possible. Obviously animals must be used in some form during a veterinary degree (just for the experience in handling them, etc). But they should never be deliberately harmed so that those who want to help animals can learn.