January Lab Animal Column: Emotional Support for Everyone

During a post-approval monitoring visit, a staff member notices that an investigator has five pet rats in his office. The rats had been purchased from a pet store and were kept separate from other animals at the institution. The investigator explains that the rats are emotional support animals (ESAs) and claims that the animals are not subject to IACUC review. Is the investigator correct, and what should the institution consider when responding to the situation?

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