Laboratory animals are required by law to be treated humanely. The following paragraphs are a synopsis of the major federal regulations regarding laboratory animal care. Whereas state and local policies may also apply, they will not be discussed here.

WHICH ANIMALS ARE CARED FOR BY LAW AT RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS? 

Animal Welfare Act:  Covers these animals when used in medical research, education

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals:  Covers all animals in facilities receiving and product testing Public Health Service funds - nearly all research institutions

Food: "Animals shall be fed palatable, uncontaminated, and nutritionally adequate food daily or according to their particular requirements. Food should be available in amounts sufficient to ensure normal growth in immature animals and maintenance of normal body weight, reproduction and lactation in adults."

Water: Animals must have continuous access to fresh, potable, uncontaminated drinking water. Watering devices should be examined routinely to ensure their proper operation.

Space: Minimum space recommendations are provided for animals ranging from mice to ponies. Recommendations vary according to animal weight and number per cage or pen, and are based on the best information available.

Atmosphere: Room temperature should be within the range of 65 to 80EF. Time-controlled lighting should provide regular night/day cycles. Ventilation should remove odors, and noise should be minimized.

Bedding: Bedding should be absorbent and toxic-free, and changed often enough to keep animals dry and clean.

Restraint: Brief physical restraint can be accomplished manually or with devices suitable in size and design for the animal, and operated properly to minimize stress and avoid injury. Prolonged restraint of any animal should be avoided unless essential for research.

Veterinary Care: A veterinarian certified or with experience in laboratory animal medicine is responsible for assessing animal health, diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries, and monitoring surgery programs and post-surgical care. A procedure to provide emergency veterinary care at any time should be established.

Euthanasia: Whenever animals are killed, the procedure should be rapid and painless. Euthanasia should be performed in a manner that minimizes reactions among other living animals.

University Animal Care (UAC) oversees the animal care and use program for the University of Arizona (UA). The UAC staff consists of 8 veterinarians and over 40 technical and administrative personnel. The entire University program is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care. Accreditation denotes that a program meets or exceeds the requirements of all animal welfare laws and regulations.

As required by the U.S. Public Health Services, UA has an active Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IACUC must ensure that laboratory animal treatment complies with the federal regulations, and with applicable state and local policies. Among the IACUC members are 5 veterinarians, 8 research investigators and 3 public members.

Investigators must submit a detailed protocol to the IACUC for research and teaching purposes that involve animals. IACUC approval is required before research can begin, and research can be suspended if the IACUC determines it does not comply with animal welfare standards. The IACUC must inspect all campus animal facilities at least every six months. The program for humane care and use of animals must be reviewed every six months using the most recently published animal welfare laws and regulations.

Sources:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. National Institutes of Health. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. NIH Publication No. 86-23. Revised 1985