Why do we grow desensitized to animal research?

I'm reposting bc last time no one could really answer. Better luck now? I work in a research lab. We have many clinical (human) and pre clinical (animal) experiments that we are conducting at any given time. At first, it shocked me that death was viewed so casually in research as the patient was replaced...but we are dealing with terminal patients. For part of my job though, I have to euthanize animals and harvest their organs. At first mice bothered me but I got used to it. Then it was dogs that we had to euthanize. Now, I can even play with the dogs before we sacrafice them and feel no emotion towards them. Why do we grow insensitive to things we used to be sensitive about?

Why do we grow desensitized to animal research?
If we don't see it, it doesn't affect us. If it doesn't affect us, it means nothing
Reply:You'd go crazy otherwise. But then again, you're actually crazy for numbing out too. Not trying to be mean.
Reply:As this is your job, you have to...or you wouldn't be able to do your job. I think this happens with anyone who works around death and dying (humans or animals). It's the only way you can effectively do your job. Obviously you do still care somewhat, or you wouldn't be posting this question...but you do to a point where it won't interfere with your job.
Reply:I'm amazed when I hear people raise this issue. They sit and watch other humans be neglected, mistreated, injured, and killed on TV everyday and think little of it. Yet, if some little fur ball in a research facility somewhere is used to further science and understanding, They get all up in arms over it! We humans have a responsibility to preserve and protect animals, and we should be concerned with their welfare, BUT lets keep it in perspective!
Reply:i guess you've just gotten used to it. i'm assuming if it ever bothered you that much that you would have quit in the beginning. personally i couldn't stand working in that kind of environment. especiallly when dogs are involved which is a type of animal you can really grow attached to.
Reply:Perhaps it is just a matter of intelligence and education. You are in a position to be aware of the suffering these animals would endure otherwise. You can play with them because you are giving them a few moments of happiness in an otherwise morose life. You are also aware of the suffering some humans may endure if these experiments were not done.


You know things now that you did not know before. This does not make you less sensitive, just more sensible.
Reply:I worked in a lab animal research facility for a year and I did not become desensitized to it. It broke my heart. And some of those experiments are repeated over and over with the same results. I quit when I had to euthanize a dog and she didn't go, she hung on for about 20 minutes. The animals were well cared for but I just couldn't do it. I feel so sad when I think about it. I used to cry all the time, I would cry at work... They kept telling me "buck up...it's just an animal". "Your being too sensitive" . I think this bothers you more than you let on if your asking this question here.
Reply:I don't think you are insenstive as I doubt you would be asking this question. Apparently at some level it does bother you but we tend to rationalize things. I think it's a fine line between being insenstive and "getting use to it." I think you know if there were any other or better methods to conduct research, it would be done. Scientists are driven by a passion in medicine to cure and prevent disease. They rationalize that the end results justify the means and are driven. Ethics and ethical review boards and guidelines try to prevent science from going to far. I suggest you research medical ethics or find a class in medical ethics. It may help you understand. I personally have met Dr. DeVries, the artficial heart surgeon and believe him to be a very sensitive, kind and compassionate person but at the same time totally professional. I wish you well.