Canadian Regulations and Guidelines to the Care and Use of Animals in Research

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Canadian Regulations and Guidelines to the Care
and Use of Animals in Research

• Ethics and Humaneness
• Canadian Council on Animal Care
• Institutional Care and Use Committees

Research, Teaching and Testing
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Ethics and Humaneness

• Ethics the study of standards of conduct and
  moral judgment
• Humane kind, tender, merciful
• Animal Welfare vs. Pursuit of Scientific Inquiry
  who makes the decisions?

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Animal Welfare vs. Animal Rights

• Animal Welfare Organizations include SPCA, CFHS
  state of health, wellness, well-being
  includes nutrition, husbandry, social
  interactions, reproductive opportunities,
  environmental enrichment supported by various
  professional associations
• Animal Rights Organizations include ALF, PETA,
  Lifeforce, Animal Alliance - animals equal to man
  privilege, belonging to one as ordained by law
  right to choose, right to be

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Sir Peter Medawar

• Nothing but research on animals will provide us
  with the knowledge that will make it possible for
  us, one day, to dispense with the use of them all
  together.

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The 3 Rs The Ethical Tenets of Using Animals
in Research

• Replace the animal where ever we can
• Reduce the number of animals used
• Refine the techniques and procedures employed
  (least invasive, minimal pain and distress and
  use the least sentient/lowest phylogenic species
  to accomplish objectives)
• Of the 3, many say refinement is the most
  important especially in terms of pain and
  distress

Russell Burch
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The 4th R

• Responsibility
• Primary responsibility to care for the animal, to
  speak for the animal, to act on its behalf
• Reverence for life
• Caring tending to, being vigilant, providing
  for, to be concerned, to be selective, to be
  respectful
• Students, Teachers, Institutions, Researchers and
  The Public all have responsibilities

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Alternatives vs. Replacements

• During recent years, we have frequently seen the
  use of the word alternatives in association
  with the 3 Rs.
• In its truest sense, researchers refer to
  alternatives not as substitutes but as
  adjuncts that allow them to pursue the 3 Rs
  (Foundation for Biomedical Research
  Understanding the Use of Animals in Biomedical
  Research)

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Canadian Laws Guidelines - The Safeguards -

• National Scene
• Criminal Code of Canada Cruelty to Animals
• Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC)
• The Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental
  Animals vol 1 2 plus selected specific
  guidelines e.g. use of transgenic animals, care
  of fish, etc.
• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees
  ethical review
• Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal
  Medicine (CALAM)
• Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal
  Science (CALAS)
• Partners in Research and many more

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Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC)

• Non-profit Ottawa - founded in 1968
• Developed the national guidelines - established
  optimum standards
• Voluntary assessment every 3 years
• Peer review team composition - compliance
• CCAC Council Members represent many granting
  agencies (e.g.MRC, NSERC), pubic interest groups
  (Canadian Federation of Humane Societies) and
  professional associations (CALAS, CALAM) and at
  least one veterinarian trained in the care and
  use of research animals

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Presidents Committee on Animal Care Uof R

• Alternative procedures that do not involve the
  use of living animals will be employed where
  possible
• The minimum number of animals will be used
  consistent with the objectives of the
  research/teaching programs
• The species of animal will be carefully selected
• the least invasive techniques will be employed
  with the refinements made as appropriate
• Those working with animals, must be trained in
  the techniques and procedures with the species

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Any man who doesnt realize that he is half
animal, is only half a man
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- The Safeguards cont -

• Provincial Scene
• Ontario (Animals for Research Act) and Alberta
  (Universities Act)
• SPCA
• Provincial Veterinary Acts, Narcotic and
  Controlled Drug Legislation

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There is no end to caring, for as man grows and
creates, he is always unfinished in-the-making
and as time passes he will understand there is
indeed an unfinished character to life.
Rollo May