Every year tens of thousands of dogs, and many more rodents are used for experimentation. Even though it is accepted that dogs are not the best model for predicting the effect of drugs on humans the practice continues, mostly because dogs are trusting and easy to work with.
Technologies exist that could replace much of this testing, if the FDA would only provide a set of standards for in vitro testing and a standard format for submission of data.
Right now, private industry and research are leading the way for these new technologies, but little can be done if the FDA does not provide the necessary standards.