<p>So for my senior project (a semester class [block schedules so 1 semester class is a credit] that is required for seniors and they pick a topic to research for a quarter then have an action phase) I am planning on doing some kind of psychological, environmental stimulant type testing (not sure yet, havent researched). This in no way will harm or bother the mice. I hope to treat them as well as pets and play games with them. This will be less cruel than the training of a puppy (all of the spraying water stuff seems so cruel).</p>
<p>MY MAIN QUESTION IS: is it legal for me to do testing if it is in no way cruel to the mice?</p>
<p>Otherwise, if you have any insight on this topic I would love to talk to you. I am not sure what tests exactly I will do. I plan on researching how to take care of mice, past famous and important experiments on mice, the psychology of a mouses brain, etc prior to buying mice and beginning experimentation.
Should I buy a pet mouse or a lab mouse?
So many questions and any input is appreciated.</p>
<p>HOWEVER please do not go PETA on this thread and call me cruel to animals. My foremost goal in this project is to insure a good quality of life for the mice.</p>
<p>I was going to get mad until I read that you didn't want to harm them.
If you're not going to physically inject them with anything, I don't see why anything would be illegal.</p>
<p>Doing something like a maze experiment, or teaching him/her to step on a button to open a door and get food is no more "cruel" than teaching a dog to shake.</p>
<p>I'd just go to the pet store and buy a little white (or black) mouse. I know some people who buy the live ones (and not already dead ones) to feed to other animals, so if you plan on keeping him/her after your experiement that would be nice too. (: I feel bad seeing the mice and knowing they're probably going to be put into a cage with a snake and no way out. </p>
<p>I would get a mouse, but I'm a senior, so my parents said no more pets and I have to wait until I move out. ;-;</p>
<p>You would have to check with your school's policy- I'm pretty sure at my school, the science department policy said no live animals other than insects.</p>
<p>apparently not. the teachers cool with the idea as long as i insure the mice safety. anyone have tips on what to research for this and possible tests?</p>
<p>I know how it works in Florida, not sure how it works in your state or if it's even different. Here it's legal for high school students to experiment on any animal, but if it is possible for the animal to come into harms way (i.e. if you're testing if something will have a harmful effect on the animal) it is only legal if the animal is an invertebrate. So basically insects (and similar) only.</p>
<p>OK, I am most interested in anyone that loves mice and therefore has an idea of possible sources of research for how a mouse thinks and famous experiments with mice and their psyche. Or just anyone with an innovative idea...</p>