Albert Sabin, the developer of the polio vaccine, once said: “Without animal research, polio would continue to claim thousands of victims every year.” Polio is a deadly disease caused by a virus that spreads from person to person. This infectious disease renders the brain and spinal cord defenseless, while granting the victim a case of permanent paralysis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “…13,000 to 20,000 cases of paralysis were reported annually,” before the 18th century. After the introduction of the polio vaccine, “…a total of 2,525 cases of paralysis were reported, compared to 61 in 1965.” This dramatic decrease in the importance of the disease polio can only be attributed to the success of animal testing. Animal testing is used in genetic research, drug testing, biology, toxicity testing, cosmetic testing, and many other fields. Despite all its beneficial traits, animal testing has been highly controversial in recent decades due to its perceived unethical treatment of animals. While animal testing may be considered unethical by many, it is a form of medical experimentation that has not only saved lives but also significantly revolutionized the world of medicine. Animal testing is a topic many people are upset about. It is considered immoral, inhumane and downright cruel. One such reason for opposition to animal testing is due to the belief shared by many animal activist groups, such as PETA, that animals are kept in appalling living conditions in research facilities. The reasons to believe this are caused by minor cases of laboratories not complying with the law. However, despite these cases, the welfare of tested animals is preserved by many laws and regulations. Department of Agriculture. Blue book on animal care. Np: np, nd Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations. United States Department of Agriculture. Network. December 23, 2013. .United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Pink book "Tetanus" Np: np, nd http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/tetanus.pdf. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.Wharton, David A. “Prevalence of Toxoplasma Gondii in Farm Animals in the United States.” International Journal for Parasitology: ASP Special Issue: 2000 Joint Meeting of the New Zealand Society of Parasitology and the Australian Society of Parasitology Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand, 24-28 September 2000. 2nd ed. vol. 43. Oxford: Elsevier Science, 2001. 107-13. Press.