Animal Use and Management

Adoption

• FAQ. Can IACUCs authorize the adoption of research animals as pets after the animals are no longer needed for study?
• P.I. eAlert.2009; No. 6. (PDF - 299 KB) Lab Rat O.K. as Pet?
• OLAW Online Seminar: The 4th R: Rehoming, Retirement and Release - June 13, 2019
• AVMA Research Dogs and Cats Adoption – Considerations for developing a research institutional adoption program

Alternatives to animals

• OLAW Online Seminar: Best Practices for Conducting a Search for Alternatives and Finding Animal Model/Model Organism Information - December 9, 2021
• Podcast: Alternatives to Animals - November 18,  2020

Animal numbers

• FAQ. When and how should animals be tracked on approved protocols?
• Lab Animal 2024; 53(02). A Word from USDA and OLAW: The Weights of Refinement and Flexibility
• Lab Animal. 2023; 52(11).(PDF - 465.7 KB) A Word From OLAW and USDA: Research Gone A-Fowl
• Lab Animal. 2023; 52(09).(PDF - 1.19 MB) A Word From OLAW and USDA: Genetically Modified Mishaps  
• Lab Animal. 2016; 45(1). (PDF - 510 KB) When reducing numbers might increase pain.
• Lab Animal. 2010; 39(2). (PDF - 149 KB) Breeding without research.
• Lab Animal. 2006; 35(1). Should you count your mice before they're weaned?

Animal reuse

• Lab Animal. 2023; 52(09).(PDF - 1.19 MB) A Word From OLAW and USDA: Genetically Modified Mishaps 
• Lab Animal 2023; 52(03). (PDF - 778.46 KB) A Word From OLAW and USDA: Once Used, Twice Counted
• Lab Animal. 2008; 37(2). (PDF - 95 KB) Collaborative studies and animal reuse.
• Lab Animal. 2007; 36(3). (PDF - 71 KB) One animal, two protocols – an appropriate application of the 3Rs?

Animal transfer

• FAQ. May an investigator transfer animals and research to an institution different than the grantee institution?
• Lab Animal. 2023; 52(09).(PDF - 1.19 MB) A Word From OLAW and USDA: Genetically Modified Mishaps  
• Lab Animal. 2001; 30(3). A Pain in the Rat.

Emergency, weekend, and holiday care

• Lab Animal. 2011; 40(11). (PDF - 179 KB) Quick action for an injured mouse.

Environmental enrichment

• FAQ. Is social housing required for nonhuman primates when housed in a research setting?
• FAQ. Should positive reinforcement training be used for nonhuman primates?
• FAQ. May performance standards determine environmental enrichment issues?
• OLAW Online Seminar: Animal Welfare in High Containment or Barrier Facilities: Addressing Unique Challenges - June 9, 2022
• Lab Animal. 2020; 49(11). (PDF - 844.98 KB) Should a primate pair put asunder be reunited?
• NOT-OD-10-121. Report on Site Visits to Chimpanzee Facilities and Associated Resources to Aid Grantee Institutions
• OLAW Online Seminar: AC and OLAW Perspective on Nonhuman Primate Enrichment and Social Housing - June 11, 2010

Ethics

• OPRR Reports. 97-02, 5/30/1997. NASA Principles for the Ethical Care and Use of Animals
• OLAW Online Seminar: Rights, Regulatory Systems and Legal Revolution - September 21, 2017
• OLAW Online Seminar: Balancing Public Interests, Benefits, and Risks in Animal Research - June 9, 2016
• OLAW Online Seminar: Ethics and IACUC Responsibility - June 10, 2010

Euthanasia methods

• FAQ. Is the use of carbon dioxide an acceptable euthanasia agent?
• OLAW Online Seminar: Update on the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition - September 10, 2020
• Lab Animal. 2013; 42(6). (PDF - 192 KB) Scientific justification for exemptions.
• OLAW Online Seminar: Field Euthanasia Methods for Wildlife - March 29, 2018

Expired materials

• FAQ. May investigators use expired pharmaceuticals, biologics, and supplies in animals?
• Lab Animal. 2018; 47(06). (PDF - 728 KB) What's the appropriate adjustment when an approved drug is in short supply?

Food/fluid regulation

• FAQ. May investigators restrict animals' food and fluid?

Housing practices/construction

• FAQ. Can performance standards be used in determining rodent housing practices including management of rodent breeding colonies?
• FAQ. May performance standards determine housing issues?
• FAQ. Can performance standards be used in determining rabbit housing practices?
• Lab Animal 2023; 52(04) (PDF - 797.08 KB) A Word From OLAW: Earthquake!
• Lab Animal 2023; 52(02) (PDF - 583.41 KB) A Word from OLAW: Compliant Cooperation for your Collaboration
• Lab Animal 2022; 51(11) (PDF - 709.5 KB) A Word from OLAW: The Risk of Hazards, Hypothetically
• OLAW Online Seminar: Animal Welfare in High Containment or Barrier Facilities: Addressing Unique Challenges - June 9, 2022
• Lab Animal. 2022; 51(02). (PDF - 896.03 KB) A Word from OLAW: When is a House a Home?
• Lab Animal. 2020; 49(11). (PDF - 844.98 KB) Should a primate pair put asunder be reunited?
• Lab Animal. 2020; 49(10). (PDF - 730.28 KB) Under construction: how to deal with noise and vibration in the animal facility?
• Lab Animal. 2020; 49(08). (PDF - 823.09 KB) Algae in abundance: au natural, or a violation Xenopus husbandry standards?
• Lab Animal. 2007; 36(10). (PDF - 165 KB) Considerations for determining optimal mouse caging density.
• OLAW Online Seminar: Housing Laboratory Rodents According to the 8th Edition of the Guide - July 19, 2012

Mouse ascites

• FAQ. Is the mouse ascites method an acceptable method of monoclonal antibody production?
• NOT-OD-00-019. Office of Extramural Research Guidance Concerning the Production of Monoclonal Antibodies in Animals
• OPRR Reports. 98-01, 11/17/1997. Production of Monoclonal Antibodies Using Mouse Ascites Method

Multiple survival surgeries

• FAQ. Are major multiple survival surgical procedures permitted on a single animal?
• FAQ. Are laparoscopic procedures considered major surgery?
• Lab Animal eAlert. 2010; No. 17. (PDF - 336 KB) Is a laparoscopic serial liver biopsy considered ‘major' animal surgery?
• Contemporary Topics. 1997; 36(2):47-50, question #5.

Non-pharmaceutical-grade substances

• FAQ. May investigators use non-pharmaceutical-grade substances in animals?
• Lab Animal. 2019; 48(01) (PDF - 742 KB) Reply to "Clarification on a contradiction"
• Lab Animal. 2018; 47(06). (PDF - 728 KB) What's the appropriate adjustment when an approved drug is in short supply?
• OLAW Online Seminar: Regulatory Considerations for Using Pharmaceutical Products in Research Involving Laboratory Animals - June 4, 2015
• Lab Animal. 2003; 32(9):33-36, question #3.

Shipping

• FAQ. What are the institution's responsibilities in ensuring that animals are shipped safely and in reporting adverse events that occur in shipment of animals to or from the institution?

Surgery

• FAQ. What are the requirements for conducting rodent survival surgery?
• Lab Animal. 2010; 39(8). (PDF- 170 KB) Noncompliance in survival surgery technique.
• ILAR News. 1993; 35(3-4):47-49, question #1.