Guide to the Responsible Care & Use of Laboratory Animals at UWM

Chapter I:   General Principles and Concepts

Chapter I pdf format, Adobe Acrobat Required(for printing)

The care and use of all animals for purposes of research and/or teaching at UWM shall be in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, and UW-System Policy.

  1. Animal Welfare Regulations (AWR’s)

    1. Citation: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 9 (Animals and Animal Products) Subchapter A (Animal Welfare), Parts 1-4 (9CFR1-4).
    2. Law implemented: Animal Welfare Act of 1966 amended in 1970, 1976, and 1985 by Public Law 99-198.

      1. Applicable: AWR’s apply to research institutions that use or intend to use live animals in research, testing, or education. “Animal means any live or dead dog, cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or any other warm-blooded animal used for research, teaching, testing, experimentation, or exhibition purposes, or as a pet.” The term excludes cold-blooded animals, birds and rats of the genus Rattus and mice of the genus Mus bred for use in research, and horses not used for research purposes and other farm animals, such as, but not limited to livestock or poultry, used or intended for use for improving animal nutrition, breeding management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber.

      2. Requirements:

        1. Specific standards stated for housing, feeding, watering, sanitation, ventilation, shelter, separation of species, and veterinary care (proper analgesia and anesthesia). Copies of the regulations are available from the attending veterinarian.

        2. Registration as a research facility.
      3. Enforcing Agency: US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Regulatory Enforcement and Animal Care (REAC). USDA inspectors conduct unannounced visits to UWM animal facilities.
      4. Penalties
        1. The institution can be fined for each violation of the Animal Welfare Act or the AWR’s.
        2. An order can be issued that the institution cease and desist violations of the Act or AWR’s.
        3. REAC can request federal funding agencies to suspend or revoke funding for research facilities that are in violation of the Act or the AWR’s.

  2. Public Health Service (PHS) Policy

    1. Law Implemented: Health Research Extension Act of 1985
    2. Applicable: All PHS conducted or supported activities involving the use of animals. “Animal is defined as any live, vertebrate animal used or intended for use in research, research training, experimentation, or biological testing or for related purposes.”
    3. Requirements:
      1. Compliance with the NRC’s “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” (revised in 1996).
      2. An Assurance.
    4. Oversight: Office of Laboratory Welfare (OLAW).
    5. Penalty: Revocation of Assurance and loss of PHS support for entire institution.

  3. The University of Wisconsin-System Policy, states:

    “All animals used for teaching, research or other activities on all campuses shall be used and cared for according to the principles stated in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, regardless of the species or source of funds used to conduct teaching, research or other activities”.

  4. Animal Care and Use Principles supported by UW-Milwaukee Administration and the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC).

    1. The transportation, care and use of animals shall be in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act, NIH Guidelines and other applicable federal, state and local laws, guidelines and prescribed policies.
    2. Procedures involving animals should be designed and performed with due consideration of their relevance to human or animal health, the advancement of scientific knowledge or the good of society.
    3. Proper use of animals, including the avoidance or minimization of distress or pain, is imperative when consistent with sound scientific practices. Unless the contrary is established, investigators should consider that procedures that cause pain or distress in human beings could cause pain or distress in other animals.
    4. The animals selected for a procedure should be of an appropriate species and quality, and only the minimum number of animals should be used to obtain valid results. Methods such as mathematical models, computer simulation, and in vitro biological systems should be considered.
    5. Procedures with animals that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress should be performed with appropriate sedation, analgesia or anesthesia.
    6. Surgical or other painful procedures should not be performed on unanesthetized animals paralyzed by a chemical agent.
    7. An animal that is observed to be in a state of severe or chronic pain or distress which cannot be relieved, should be painlessly killed at the end of the procedure, or if appropriate, during the procedure.
    8. The living conditions of the animals used for research and teaching should be appropriate for their species and contribute to their health and comfort. The proper housing, care, feeding, and handling of all animals must be directed by a veterinarian. Veterinary care should be provided as indicated.
    9. Investigators and personnel shall be appropriately qualified and experience for conducting procedures on living animals. Adequate arrangements shall be made for their in-service training, including training in the proper and humane care and use of laboratory animals.
    10. Where exceptions are required in relation to the provisions of these principles, the decisions should not rest with the investigators directly concerned, but should be made with due regard to principle b, by an appropriate review group, such as the ACUC. Such exceptions should be made solely for the purpose of teaching or demonstration.

Updated November 13, 2006 by SAK