Here in the United States, our scientific and medical research communities are committed to supporting the development of techniques that promote humane animal research by: Reducing the number of animals needed in any given studyReplacing animals with other models whenever possibleRefining procedures to ensure the most humane treatment possible using the fewest number of animals to yield valid results

Practically all research animals are rodents—mice and rats—bred for this purpose. Dogs, cats, and non-human primates together account for less than one half of one percent of the total, and their number has declined for more than 25 years. Since 1979, the number of dogs and cats needed in animal research has declined by more than 50 percent. The number of primates needed represents 0.2 percent and has remained relatively constant—in the 50,000 per year range—for the past decade.