Alternatives to Dissection Cost Comparison: Dissection Alternatives vs. Specimens How does the cost of buying dead animals for dissection compare with buying humane alternatives? The figures below are based on a hypothetical school’s need for a three-year period. Reusable materials (dissection tools, tray, computer programs, models, charts, etc.) are treated as a one-time purchase. Costs are based on a ratio of two students per animal dissected (45 animals a year, 135 animals over three years). This comparison assumes that the school already has computers and CD-ROM players, but no VCRs. Because dissection manuals are needed for dissection but are also useful stand-alone study guides, they are included under both Alternatives and Dissection headings. Low and high prices of preserved animals were obtained from the Nasco Science 1999 Catalog and the alternatives (1999 prices) were selected from available lists, catalogs and databases. Numbers of alternative materials were derived based on the assumption that students would not be using all alternatives at one time. C A T Alternatives Dissection Anatomy model (x2) $800 High cost per animal ($48.45 x 135) $6,541 Dissection video (39 minutes) $70 Low cost per animal ($23.75 x 135) $3,206 CatWorks (x4) $360 64 page dissection manual (x30) $285 Catlab (CD-ROM) (x4) $200 Supplies (x135) $1,500 64 page dissection manual (x30) $285   N/A VCR $150   N/A Alternatives: $1,865 High Cost $8,326   Low Cost $4,991 Cat alternatives can SAVE between $6,461 or $3,126           B u l l f r o g Alternatives Dissection Frog Inside Out Video (67 minutes) $159 High cost per animal (11.25 x 135) 1,519 Pictorial Atlas (x30) $269 Low cost per animal (5.97 x 135) $806 Great American Bullfrog (model) (x2) $1,310 Pictorial Atlas (x30) $269 The Digital Frog (CD-ROM) (x4) $600 Supplies $1,500 Dissection Works (CD-ROM) (x4) $240   N/A BioCam dissection chart (x30) $90   N/A VCR $150   N/A Alternatives: $2,818 High Cost $3,288 Low Cost $2,575 Bullfrog alternatives can SAVE $470 (or cost an extra $243)           F e t a l   P i g Alternatives Dissection Fetal pig model (x2) $590 High cost per animal (14.85 x 135) $2,005 BioCam dissection chart (x8) $90 Low cost per animal (3.15 x 135) $425 Dissection Works (CD-ROM) (x8) $1,600 56 page dissection manual (x30) $285 Fetal pig anatomy video (26 min) $70 Supplies $1,500 56 page dissection manual (x30) $285   N/A VCR $150   N/A Alternatives: $2,785 High Cost $3,790   Low Cost $2,210 Fetal Pig alternatives can SAVE $1,005 (or cost an extra $575)   From HSUS' Cost Comparison of Dissection Alternatives vs. Specimens