Animal Care and Use Statement

Preamble

The use of animals is essential to the teaching, extension and research missions of North Carolina State University. Significant benefits to the health and welfare of both animals and humans have resulted from animal use in research, and continued use is crucial to future advancements. Without the use of animals, adequate instruction of students in many programs — such as agriculture, the biological sciences and veterinary medicine — would be impossible. However, those who utilize animals are morally and legally obligated to care for them properly and use them humanely. Each faculty member, staff member or student involved in the use of animals is directly responsible for promoting and protecting their welfare within the instructional, extension and research programs of the university. Those who use animals should assume this responsibility through precept and example. The following statement provides guidance for the proper care and humane use of animals within NC State University programs.

Statement

• Animals should be used in teaching, research and extension programs only as required to demonstrate principles, to obtain new information and achieve results that will ultimately benefit society. Whenever feasible, mathematical models, in vitro biological systems, demonstrations, and computer and audiovisual aids should augment, complement or possibly replace animal use entirely, thereby reducing the number of animals needed.
• The procurement, care and use of animals shall be in accordance with the regulations and terms of the federal Animal Welfare Act and the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (and subsequent revisions).
• All research projects and educational or extension activities using vertebrate animals under the jurisdiction or control of NC State shall be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. In its reviews, the IACUC will apply standards and guidelines set forth in the Animal Welfare Act and the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (and subsequent revisions).
• The housing, care, feeding and observation of all animals must be supervised by individuals trained in such matters. Managers of animal care facilities are expected to meet the guidelines set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (for biomedical research projects) or the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching (for agricultural research projects), or other guides as adopted by the IACUC. These guides are available online or from the IACUC office (P: 919.515.7507; email: iacuc_office@ncsu.edu)
• Animal use shall be planned and conducted so as to avoid or minimize pain and distress to the animals. Procedures involving animals must be performed by or be closely supervised by a faculty or staff member who is skilled in the procedure. Students taking part in such procedures must be appropriately instructed and supervised. If any experimental or demonstrative procedure, or its consequences, has the potential to induce significant and/or lasting pain, distress or suffering, appropriate methods of tranquilization, anesthesia and analgesia must be used. The University Attending Veterinarian can provide guidance on appropriate methods. Any painful or distressful procedure, regardless of whether it can or cannot be obviated, must be reviewed and approved in advance by the IACUC.
• Procedures for euthanasia must be performed in a manner consistent with the latest recommendations of the American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia and all proposed methods must be approved in advance by the IACUC.
• Any faculty member, staff member or student of the university who has reason to know or believe that this statement or Reg 10.10.1 is being violated may submit a written request to the IACUC for review of the procedure or situation in question. The IACUC will examine all pertinent facts regarding the alleged policy violation. If the allegation is substantiated, the IACUC will report the violation(s) to the appropriate administrative officials. NC State University will take all steps possible to prevent retaliation against the person requesting the review.

Reference: The Animal Welfare Assurance #D16-00214. 7 U.S.C. 2131-2159, CFR 9: 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2(g). Reg 10.10.1.