Humans have made massive strides in technology and all the fields sciences over the last couple thousands of years. Innovation has many different costs, but one that is focused on, particularly in the sciences, is the sacrifice of animals. Many are concerned of the idea of animal experimentation and the possible cruelty inflicted on helpless non-understanding animals. The sacrifice of these animals is necessary to maintain the present pace of scientific innovation across all fields dependent on biological systems. The question is whether this pace is deemed necessary: our social institutions have deemed that animal experimentation can be permitted, but it is strictly controlled. If the animal is acknowledged to have higher cognizance the experiment must be approved beforehand to avoid any unnecessary cruelty. The majority of humans are omnivorous and make the conscious decision to consume animal-based products for their own sustenance when less potentially-cruel alternatives are available. Ultimately, one could coldly compare the animals to any resource and rationalize the sacrifice on an objective basis devoid of emotional bias. In comparison to the food industries across the globe, scientific institutions in general have much stricter guidelines for the care and well being of animals. Like in all institutions, sometimes errors can be made, but the modern guidelines and restrictive access have cut down on those mistakes and breaches of protocol. In general human lives are extended and the quality of life improved by the sacrifices of these animals and there are a significant number of regulations in place to prevent unnecessary suffering.