So it is used as a term of respect for the animals killed to further science. A way to remind ourselves that we should not be taking their lives without purpose.
A long time ago I was a lab assistant and remember feeling very bad about a series of experiments that were in my view poorly planned and largely pointless. We sacrificed those rats, I personally euthanized them, and I think it is good to be reminded that they are living creatures.
Wasn't sure if you were joking. But after 3 minutes of research I see you weren't. Thanks for that info.
.. turns out they don't euphemize their euthanize.
I feel like that statue should look like a real mouse, not a human mouse. Like imagine if a huge species used us as lab testing animals and built a statue of us to honor our sacrifice. But it just looks like one of them, only cartoonishly like a human. You wouldn't like it or feel appreciated. I think if we really did admire the animal we would build a statue of one that actually looks like it.