Policy on Lab Animal Enrichment
(for printing)The IACUC established a lab animal enrichment policy at the December 8, 2000 meeting since this is the norm across the country and will be required by AAALAC. Enrichment can be achieved by various means including group housing, using food supplements, or using various types of toys or foraging devices.
The ACUC is aware that not all type of research projects will allow for the use of enrichment devices and will take that into account in protocol review. The ACUC is also concerned over the increasing amount of criticism noted by students regarding the housing conditions of the lab animals and hopes that the use of more enrichment devices will help boost staff morale as well as being beneficial to the animals. The protocol will be modified to include a question as to whether enrichment devices could be used and a justification given if they cannot be used (i.e. if they would be disruptive to the research). B. Forman will help investigators chose the most appropriate form of enrichment devices depending on the species and type of caging used.
Updated May 22, 2007 by SAK