Dear Professor Evelyn Welch and Mr Jack Boyer,
I'm disappointed to learn that the University of Bristol is yet to drop the forced swim test, even though a freedom of information request revealed that rats and mice haven't been tormented in this cruel near-drowning experiment at the institution for over a year. Clearly, it is unnecessary and the university could easily end its use permanently.
The previous government stated its intention to eliminate the archaic experiment in the UK entirely – and has already taken the first steps towards achieving this. No reputable institution should still be using this cruel test, which is increasingly being rejected by the scientific community and does a disservice to those suffering from mental health conditions.
In this test, experimenters induce panic in small, vulnerable animals, who are forced into inescapable cylinders of water. Terrified of drowning, they try to climb the steep sides of the container and even dive underwater in an attempt to find an escape.
I urge you to reflect the opinion of the public, the scientific community, and the government by dropping the forced swim test at the University of Bristol immediately. Academic institutions must be at the forefront of accelerating the global shift towards efficient, effective animal-free science.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter.
Sincerely,
[Name]
