Identification of Animals, Project and Facilities
The first page of the "approved" Application to Use Animals Form identifying the project with the animals in the room, will be displayed on the door of the animal housing room. If animals from more than one project are housed in one room, the first page from each "approved" application will be displayed and each cage will be identified with IACUC number on the cage card.
A daily checklist of cleaning, care and observation of the animals will also be displayed in the room. This checklist will be initialed by any person performing the duties in the room each day.. At the end of each month, the checklist from each room or production facility will be forwarded to the IACP office to be filed. These can be on a clipboard or in a plastic container to protect the sheets from moisture.
The approved application, cover sheet or checklist will not replace cage cards and animal identification on cages. Cage cards are to be kept up to date and should include such things as IACUC number, investigators name, date of arrival or birth of animals, source of the animals, the stock, the strain or line, and names, contact phone numbers and locations of responsible research team members who can make decisions about the use of the animals
In production facilities, (i.e., pasture, feedlot, confinement feeding), the first page of the approved form can be held in the operation's office.
A weekend and holiday schedule of personnel attending the animals should be posted in a location close to the entrance of each animal facility.
Animal Identification - The Animal Welfare Act and the Guide require certain information on all animal cages for identification purposes. Cage cards will be designed to satisfy these requirements. Research or other data may be placed on the back of cage cards or on a second card in the holder behind the identification card. However, the completed cage card must be visible on all animal cages at all times.
The Animal Welfare Act requires that individual dogs, cats, and primates be identified either by tattoo or tag on a chain around the animal's neck. When USDA tags are used, the tag must be retained by animal facilities for a period of two years after the animal's death. Records of the animals with tatoos must also be kept for two years.
Record Keeping - The University is responsible for maintaining records that document efforts to avoid animal pain and distress during the research procedure. If surgery is performed, anesthetic records will be maintained. These records must be maintained for three years and are subject to inspection by the USDA, NIH, OLAW and the IACUC. Records for individual animal manipulations on farm animals, dogs, cats, and experimental groups of rabbits, rodents and other small animals will include:
- The source of the animal
- Date of experimental procedure
- Procedure performed
- Person(s) performing procedure
- Pre-surgical drugs, anesthetics and post-surgical care
- Illnesses or injuries
- Medical treatment during the course of the experiment
- Date of death or euthanasia
- Disposition of the animal when the study is completed
- Occasionally, it may be appropriate to keep such information on individual small animals as well as when surgery or general anesthesia is performed
