LATG: A Review of the Animal Welfare Act

1
LATGA Review of theAnimal Welfare Act

• Created by
• Marc S. Hulin, DVM, Dipl. ACLAM

2
History of AWA

• Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (PL
  89-544)
• designed to stop pet napping
• applied to dog cats dealers research
  facilities that used dogs and cats
• Animal Welfare Act (PL 91-579) amended in 1970
• expanded to cover hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits,
  NHP other warm-blooded species
• cover animals while on study
• cover use in teaching and exhibition

3
History of AWA

• 1976 Amendment (PL94-279)
• carriers were covered transportation standards
  were set
• expanded to cover Marine Mammals

4
History of AWA

• Food Security Act of 1985 (PL 99-198)
• aka Improved Standards for Laboratory Animals
• mandated training of all personnel using animals
  in research
• defined duties composition of the IACUC
• developed standards for exercise of dogs
  psychological well-being of NHP
• defined one major operative procedure only
  unless scientifically justified or vet. procedure
• established Animal Welfare Information Center
  (AWIC) to prevent unnecessary duplication

5
History of AWA

• Protection of Pets-1990 Amendment
• attached to Food, Agriculture, Conservation and
  Trade Act (PL 101-624)
• mandated a minimum holding period of 5 days for
  pounds and shelters before providing any live cat
  or dog to a Class B dealer

6
APHIS AWA

• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
  (APHIS)
• enforcement of the standards and regulations of
  the AWA
• Regulatory Enforcement and Animal Care (REAC)
• group within APHIS that administers Federal laws
  concerning transportation, sale, and handling of
  animals used in lab research
• NOTE USDA inspections are unannounced and
  conducted annually

7
Part 1- Definition of Terms

• Animal
• any live or dead dog, cat, NHP, guinea pig,
  hamster, rabbit or any other warm-blooded animal
  intended for use in research
• term excludes birds, rats of the genus Rattus
  and mice of the genus Mus bred for research
• also excludes horses not used for research
  purposes and other farm animals intended for use
  as food or fiber

8
Part 1- Definition of Terms

• Class A dealer (purpose bred)
• breed and raise animals in a closed or stable
  colony
• Class B dealer (random source)
• purchase and/or resale of any animal for the
  purpose of research
• Class C dealer (exhibitor)
• showing or displaying of animals to the public

9
Part 1- Definition of Terms

• Field study
• study conducted on free-living wild animals in
  their natural habitat which does not involve
  invasive procedures, and which does not harm or
  materially alter the behavior of the animals
  under study
• Institutional Official
• individual at a research facility who is
  authorized to legally commit on behalf of
  research facility that requirements of AWA will
  be met.

10
Part 1- Definition of Terms

• Major operative procedure
• any surgical procedure that penetrates and
  exposes a body cavity or any procedure which
  produces permanent impairment of physical or
  physiological functions
• Painful procedure
• any procedure that would reasonably be expected
  to cause more than slight or momentary pain or
  distress in a human being

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Part 1- Definition of Terms

• Random sources
• dogs cats obtained from animal pounds or
  shelters, auction sales, or from any person who
  did not breed raise them on his or her premises
• Primary enclosures
• any structure or device used to restrict an
  animal or animals, such as a room, pen, or cage.

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Part 1- Definition of Terms

• Study area
• any room, area, enclosure, or other containment
  outside of a main animal facility where animals
  are housed for more than 12 hours.
• NOTE PHS Policy defines as 24 hrs.

13
Part 2- Regulations

• This part sets forth requirements for
  registration licensing under the Act, adequate
  veterinary care, handling, holding, facilities,
  identification of animals, and recordkeeping

14
Subpart A- Licensing

• Persons operating or desiring to operate as
  dealers, exhibitors, or operators of auction
  sales must be licensed
• Exemptions
• retail pet stores
• persons who derive no more than 500 gross annual
  income
• persons who maintain no more than 3 breeding
  female dogs or cats sell offspring for pets or
  exhibition
• persons who sell fewer than 25 dogs and or cats
  annually for research, testing, or education

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Subpart A- Licensing

• Exemptions (cont)
• persons who buy animals solely for their own use
  do not sell or exhibit animals
• License application 10 fee
• Applicants must demonstrate that their premises,
  facilities, vehicles, equipment are in compliance
• licenses are valid for 1 yr.
• 30 days prior to expiration must reapply and
  submit annual report with income or number of
  animals sold.

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Subpart B- Registration

• Carriers, Intermediate handlers, and exhibitors
  must register with the Secretary of USDA
• Must be updated every 3 yrs.

17
Subpart C- Research Facilities

• Research facilities, other than federal research
  facilities must register
• Updated every 3 yrs.
• An official who has legal authority to bind the
  parent organization must sign the registration
  form

18
Subpart C- Research Facilities

• IACUC
• CEO must appoint IACUC members
• Must consist of at least 3 people
• Chairman
• DVM with training or experience in lab animal
  science and medicine
• Person not affiliated with the facility (not
  immediate family member)
• If more than 3 members, no more than 3 members
  from same dept.
• NOTE PHS policy must have 5 members

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Subpart C- Research Facilities

• IACUC functions
• review animal care program inspect animal
  facilities at least once every 6 months
• prepare reports from the review inspection
• review investigate public complaints about
  animal care
• review approve proposed activities or
  significant changes
• suspend an activity involving animals

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Subpart C- Research Facilities

• Attending Veterinarian and Adequate Veterinary
  Care
• each facility must employ an attending
  veterinarian
• part time or consultants must have a written
  program of veterinary care regularly scheduled
  visits to the facility

21
Subpart C- Research Facilities

• Recordkeeping Requirements
• Must maintain IACUC records
• Meeting minutes
• Proposed activities significant changes
• Semiannual reports
• must keep for 3 yrs. after completion of project
• Must keep records for live dogs and cats
• Health certificate, Animal description, USDA ,
  date of acquisition, vendor info.
• All records must be available for APHIS and
  federal agency inspection copying (FOIA)
• NOTE PHS require 2 more AWA AAALAC, Int.
  accreditation

22
Subpart C- Research Facilities

• Annual Report to USDA
• Must be submitted by Dec. 1 of each yr. covers
  Oct. 1-Sept. 30 (federal fiscal yr.)
• Considered alternatives to painful procedures
• Assure adhering to the AWA
• Common names and number of animals used in the
  following categories
• D or 0 no pain or distress
• E or 1 pain or distress with appropriate drugs
• F or 2 pain or distress without drugs requires
  scientific justification

23
Subpart C- Research Facilities

• Identification of dogs and cats
• Official tag
• USDA
• Numbers and letters identifying the state and
  dealer
• Numbers identifying the animal
• Tags cannot be reused within a 5 yr. period
• Lost tags must be replaced with new tag and
  number must be recorded in records
• Tags must be kept for 1 yr. period

24
Subpart C- Research Facilities

• Identification of dogs and cats (cont)
• Tattoo
• Collar
• Unweaned puppies or kittens to not need
  individual identification if with dams
• Health certificates
• Dog, Cat, or NHP transported from a research
  facility must be accompanied by health
  certificate issued by licensed, accredited vet.
• Health certificate must have date examined by
  vet. not more than 10 days prior to transport

25
Subpart C- Research Facilities

• Holding periods for dogs and cats
• Research facilities that obtain dogs or cats from
  sources other than dealers, exhibitors, and
  persons who are exempt from licensing regulations
  must hold the animal for 5 full days, not
  including the day of acquisition or time in
  transit

26
Subpart H- Compliance with Standards

• Holding period
• Any live cat or dog acquired by a dealer or
  exhibitor must be held for 5 full days, not
  including the day of acquisition or time in
  transit and must include at least one Saturday
• This 5 days is for animals acquired from public
  pounds or shelters
• Extended to 10 days if acquired from private or
  contract pounds or shelters
• Pounds or shelters must hold for 5 days before
  releasing to Class B dealer

27
Subpart H- Compliance with Standards

• Holding period (cont)
• Before selling a random source dog, a dealer must
  provide certification relating to
• background and registration of the dealer and
  animal
• description of the animal
• background of shelter were purchased
• statement by shelter that held for at least 5
  days
• assurance that the dealer notified person, pound
  or shelter that the animal might be used for
  research or educational purposes

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Subpart H- Compliance with Standards

• Procurement of random source dogs and cats
• Class B dealers may obtain random source dogs
  and cat only from
• licensed dealers
• state, county, or city-owned and operated pounds
  or shelters
• another legally operated animal shelter

29
Part 3- Standards

• This sections specifies standards for the humane
  handling, care, treatment, and transportation of
  dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, NHP,
  marine mammals, and other warm-blooded animals
• NOTE This section has a lot of common sense
  info. e.g., removal and disposal of waste must be
  regular and frequent or adequate potable water
  must be supplied for animals drinking needs

30
Part 3- Standards

• Indoor facilities
• Dogs, Cats, NHP
• the ambient temp. must not fall below 45 F or
  rise above 85 F for more than 4 consecutive hours
  when animals are present
• Guinea pigs and hamsters
• the ambient temp. must not fall below 60 F or
  exceed 85 F
• Rabbits
• indoor facilities need not be heated

31
Part 3- Standards

• Outdoor facilities
• Not suitable for guinea pigs and hamsters
• Dogs and cats
• unknown acclimation status do not keep outdoors
  if temp. is less than 50 F
• Rabbits
• temp. gt 90 F artificial cooling shall be provided
  (sprinkler system)
• Shelter from cold weather
• Dogs and cats below 50 F
• Rabbits below 40 F
• NHP below 45 F

32
Part 3- Standards

• Primary enclosures
• Dogs, Cats, NHP must be structurally sound and
  maintained in good repair
• contain protect from injury
• allow animals to remain dry clean
• easy access to food and water
• protection from extreme cold and heat
• surfaces to be cleaned/sanitized readily
• Dogs Cats
• innovative enclosure that do not precisely meet
  floor area and height may be used must be
  approved by IACUC

33
Part 3- Standards

• Cats
• must provide receptacle with clean litter
• space requirements
• 24 in. high
• lt 8.8 lb or 4 kg must have 3.0 sq. ft.
• gt 8.8 lb or 4 kg must have 4.0 sq. ft.
• queens with litters must have additional space
• minimum floor space excludes food/water pan, but
  includes litter box
• each primary enclosure must contain an elevated
  resting surface
• no more than 12 adult cats may be housed in same
  primary enclosure

34
Part 3- Standards

• Dogs
• Interior height must be at least 6 inches higher
  than the head of the tallest dog when it is in
  normal standing position
• Minimum floor space
• Equal to the square of the sum of the length of
  the dog in inches (measured from the tip of the
  nose to the base of the tail) plus 6 inches,
  expressed in square feet (divide by 144).
• Dog measuring 30 inches, would be 36 x 36/144
  9 sq. ft.
• NOTE Differs from Guide (based on wt. of dog)
• No more than 12 adult dogs in same enclosure

35
Part 3- Standards

• Nonhuman primates
• Minimum space requirements must be met even if
  perches or swings are placed in the enclosure
• based on typical wt. of species
• ranges from Group 1-Group 6
• Group 6 includes great apes lt 50 kg and
  brachiating species
• Great apes gt 50kg must have additional space for
  normal postural adjustments
• Smaller innovative enclosures may be used but
  must be approved by IACUC/Administrator

36
Part 3- Standards

• Guinea pigs
• cage interior height 7 inches
• minimum floor space 60 sq. in. lt 350 gr and 101
  sq. in. gt 350 gr
• Hamsters
• cage interior height 6 inches
• minimum floor space see AWA
• no other hamster may be kept in an enclosure with
  nursing female and litter
• Rabbits
• minimum interior height 14 in.
• minimum floor space see AWA

37
Part 3- Standards

• Environmental enhancement to promote
  psychological well-being
• dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities must
  follow and document a plan for EE and must be
  directed by attending veterinarian
• The plan must address
• Social grouping (conspecifics)
• Environmental enrichment species typical
  activity
• Special considerations juveniles, psychological
  distress
• Restraint devices must not be used unless
  required by protocol (restraint gt 12 hrs. must
  give 1 hr. unrestrained daily)

38
Part 3- Standards

• Environmental enhancement to promote
  psychological well-being (cont)
• exemptions
• Veterinarian may exempt animals for reasons of
  health, condition, or well-being
• IACUC may exempt for scientific reasons
• Records of exemptions must be made available to
  USDA and federal agencies

39
Part 3- Standards

• Dog Exercise Program
• dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities must
  have appropriate documented plan to provide dogs
  with the opportunity for exercise
• must be approved by attending veterinarian
• plan must have written standard procedure

40
Dog Exercise Program

• All dogs individually housed with less than 2
  times required floor space must be provided
  regular opportunity for exercise
• Dogs that are group housed do not require
  additional opportunity for exercise if floor
  space is equal to at least 100 of the required
  floor for each individual dog

41
Dog Exercise Program

• Exemptions
• Attending veterinarian decision for reasons of
  health, condition, or well-being
• exemption must be documented and reviewed at
  least every 30 days
• Scientific reasons
• must be documented in IACUC approved protocol

42
Animal Health Husbandry

• Feeding
• animal must be fed at least once daily
• food containers for all species must be sanitized
  at least every 2 wks.
• Watering
• if potable water is not accessible at all times,
  potable liquids must be offered at least twice
  daily for at least 1 hr. each time
• water receptacles sanitized at least every 2 wks.

43
Animal Health Husbandry

• Sanitation
• effective program for control of insects,
  ectoparasites, and vermin shall be maintained
• dogs, cats, and nonhuman primates
• excreta and food waste must be removed from
  primary enclosures daily
• enclosures should be sanitized at least every 2
  wks.
• Hard surfaces can be cleaned by cage washer, live
  steam under pressure, or detergent and
  disinfectant

44
Animal Health Husbandry

• Guinea pigs and hamsters
• enclosures must be cleaned and sanitized at least
  every 2 wks.
• Rabbits
• enclosures must be cleaned and sanitized at least
  every 30 days
• underlying pans or troughs shall be cleaned at
  least once a week

45
Transportation Standards

• Carriers and intermediate handlers may not accept
  animals for transportation more than 4 hrs.
  before departure
• Must be accompanied by health certificate signed
  by vet. within 10 days of shipment
• Temperature of terminal facility must be lower
  than 45 F for more than 4 hrs. when animals are
  present

46
Transportation Standards

• Primary enclosures used to transport live
  animals
• Interior must be free of any protrusions
• Openings must be easily accessible for
  emergencies
• adequate handholds for lifting must be located on
  exterior
• Enclosures must have words Live Animals or
  Wild Animals printed in letters at least 1 inch
  high on top and one side

47
Transportation Standards

• Food and water requirements (must be affixed to
  outside of enclosure)
• Dogs, cats, NHP
• must be offered water and food within 4 hrs. of
  transportation
• water must be offered at least every 12 hrs.
• NHP gt 1 yr., dogs and cats gt 16 wks must be fed
  at least once every 24 hrs.
• NHP lt 1 yr., dogs and cats lt 16 wks must be fed
  at least once every 12 hrs.
• Guinea pigs, hamster, and rabbits
• animals in transit for more than 6 hrs. must have
  access to food and water or type of food to
  satisfy their needs during transit (Transgel)

48
Transportation Standards

• Guinea pigs, hamster, and rabbits
• Maximum allowable number of animals which can be
  transported in one enclosure
• Guinea pigs 15
• Rabbits 15
• Hamsters 50

49
Transportation Standards

• Care in Transit
• Surface Transportation
• Animals must be observed at least every 4 hrs. to
  assure proper ventilation, temperature, or
  physical distress
• Air Transportation
• Animals must be observed at least every 4 hrs. if
  the animal cargo area is accessible during
  flight. If not, must be observed during loading
  and unloading

50
Terminal Facilities

• Ventilation and Temperature
• Dogs, Cats, NHP (same for primary conveyances)
• ventilation must be provided by windows, doors,
  vents, etc.
• auxiliary ventilation must be used when the temp.
  gt 85 F in holding area
• ambient temp. must not exceed 85 F nor fall below
  45 F for more than 4 consecutive hrs. when
  animals are present
• Duration
• must not be held at terminal facility for more
  than 24 hrs. if consignee cannot be notified, but
  48 hrs. if fails to take physical possession

51
Terminal Facilities

• Ventilation and Temperature
• Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, other warm
  blooded animals (same for primary conveyances)
• ventilation must be provided by windows, doors,
  vents, etc.
• auxiliary ventilation must be used when the temp.
  gt 75 F in holding area
• ambient temp. must not exceed 85 F nor fall below
  45 F for more than 4 consecutive hrs. when
  animals are present