Millions of animals are ripped from their habitats and needlessly killed for classroom dissection every year, so there is an urgent need for animal-friendly dissection alternatives. The Replacing Animals in Science Education Act (AB 1586) aimed to create animal-friendly classrooms throughout California.

Sadly, Assembly Members Patrick O’Donnell and Kevin Kiley of the Education Committee voted against AB 1586 on May 1, so millions of animals will continue to be unnecessarily killed.

The Replacing Animals in Science Education Act (The RAISE Act) would have replaced cruel animal dissection in California’s public schools with virtual reality dissections, interactive 3-D models, and mobile applications. These digital tools provide realistic representations of animal anatomy to support students’ understanding and are available for relatively little or no cost. These tools encourage interactive engagement in the classroom while eliminating the unnecessary dismemberment and destruction of innocent animals.

Animals used for dissection are ripped away from their habitats and are often stored in bags and preserved in toxic chemicals while still alive. Other animals, including kittens, are supplied by breeding facilities, pet stores, or animal shelters, and fetal pigs are removed from their mothers’ wombs before they are slaughtered to produce meat.

The interdisciplinary, cross-curricular utilization of technology not only increases engagement, comprehension, and curiosity in today’s classrooms, it also sets students up for success in the future. The ability to utilize technology to acquire and apply knowledge is an invaluable skill that must be mastered as the use of these tools becomes increasingly prevalent in academia and the workplace.

As a society, we must teach young, impressionable minds to approach all living beings with respect, compassion, and curiosity. We will continue to work towards animal-friendly classrooms. Please consider making a donation today to support our important work for animals.