Resources for Animal Care

• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Membership
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Federal Regulations/Information

• Animal Welfare Act, Regulations and Standards (PDF) (external link)
• Animal Welfare Information Center Home Page (external link)
• Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) (external link)
• Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (external link)

Guidelines

• American Society of Mammologists (external link)
  • Guidelines for the Capture, Handling, and Care of Mammals (PDF) (external link)
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines on Euthanasia (external link): Revised 2020; these guidelines set the standards for euthanasia practices. PHS Policy incorporates these guidelines by reference.
• Amphibians and Reptiles, Recommendations for the Care of (external link)
• Code of Practice, prepared by the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (DAPTF) (PDF) (external link) to provide guidelines for use by anyone conducting fieldwork at amphibian breeding sites or in other aquatic habitats.
• Concerns Related to the use of Clove Oil as an Anesthetic for Fish, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Guidance for Industry (PDF) (external link)
• Database on Refinement of Housing and Handling Conditions and Environmental Enrichment for Laboratory Animals (external link) (Rodents, Rabbits, Cats, Dogs, Ferrets, Farm Animals, Horses, Birds, Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles)
• Guidance Concerning Use of Carbon Dioxide for Euthanasia of Small Animals: The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare has issued PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals guidance to Assured institutions clarifying current requirements regarding the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a euthanasia agent for small laboratory animals. Guidance regarding prompt reporting of related serious noncompliance is included. The guidance is contained in a July 17, 2002 notice published in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guide for Grants and Contracts (OD-02-062) (external link)
• Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Teaching and Research (Ag Guide 2010) (PDF)
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th Edition (PDF) (external link)
• Guidelines for Use of Fishes in Field Research (PDF) (external link)
• Guidelines for Use of Live Amphibians and Reptiles in Field and Laboratory Research (PDF) (external link)
• Institute for Lab Animal Research (ILAR): Online Journals (external link)
  • Pain and Distress in Fish (PDF) (external link)
• Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) (external link)
• Zebrafish Information Network (ZFIN) (external link)

Other

• NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare – Resources (external link)