Animals in Medical Research

Although I am against any type of cruelty to animals, I believe that medical research on certain animals is fine. It may sound contradicting but I do not classify a rat or a mouse an actual animal. I am totally against testing on any type of domestic animal such as dogs or cats. I feel that we are better off risking the life of a chicken than a human life. Here's an idea, don't like animal testing? Volunteer yourself or better yet, let's start taking more care of the overpopulated prisons!