Other ACC Info

Animal Care Committee   Approved ACC Policy Reporting Animal Welfare Concerns

Other Policies

Purpose

The Health Center’s Animal Care Committee (ACC) is committed to the humane care and use of laboratory animals. To ensure that laboratory animals receive humane care and use or treatment in accordance with the highest ethical standards, laws, regulations, and policies governing animal research, the ACC must review and, if warranted, address any animal-related concerns by the public or University of Connecticut Health Center employees. The following will outline the established procedure to ensure that concerns are communicated to the ACC. The ACC must review each concern in a timely and systematic manner and, when necessary, take prompt and appropriate corrective action.

Reports of animal welfare concerns may be made anonymously, if desired. However, if the complainant would like to know the resolution of the investigation, s/he must provide a name. All reports will be handled confidentially, although anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Action

1. Letter-sized posters outlining how to report animal care and use concerns are available and posted throughout the health center: in the main department offices, and on each floor where animal rooms are located.
    
2. When alleged incidences of non-compliance are reported to the ACC, these incidences will be investigated with the utmost concern for confidentiality and due process, without compromising the welfare of the animals.
    
3. If the incidence directly involves animal health and safety, a Center for Laboratory Animal Care (CLAC) veterinarian will assess the health and well-being of the animal(s) and will verify the concern. If there is animal suffering, the veterinarian will take immediate action, including supportive care or euthanasia. While a good faith effort will be made to contact the principal investigator (PI), the immediate animal welfare situation may necessitate that immediate action be taken without the PI’s knowledge.
    
4. Once the animal(s)’s welfare is assessed and addressed (or in those situations where animals are not directly involved), the alleged concern or issue will be investigated by an ACC subcommittee:

• This subcommittee will usually consist of the ACC chair, the ACC coordinator, the Associate VP of Research, an attending veterinarian, and another member of the ACC.
• This subcommittee will initiate an investigation within 5 working days of receiving the report. All reports will be brought to a meeting of the ACC.
• It is the responsibility of the ACC subcommittee to review the concern, determine appropriate action, communicate with the PI involved, and follow-up on the corrective action plan.
• Once the subcommittee informs the ACC of the results of the investigation, the ACC- via the chair- will inform the PI and the Associate VP of Research of the results of the investigation
• The Associate VP of Research will then, if necessary, inform the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the grant institution.

5. If the complainant disclosed his/her name, s/he will then be contacted by the ACC coordinator with the results of the investigation.
    
6. If allegations of misuse of laboratory animals or non-compliance with federal, state, or institutional policies or regulations have been established by the investigation, the potential consequences to the involved individual(s) may include: mandatory retraining, suspension of animal protocol(s), termination of animal protocol(s), or permanent withdrawal of ACC approval to use laboratory animals.

Effective Dates:  December 16, 2004 through December 15, 2007

This policy has been approved by a majority vote of the Animal Care Committee Members
Joseph Lorenzo, M.D., Chair, Animal Care Committee