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Use Of Live Animals In Teaching

The veterinary profession has a stewardship role for the health and welfare of a major segment of the animal kingdom. We must take a leading role in establishing standards and then educating our society regarding matters of animal well-being. The College of Veterinary Medicine has established principles and standards for the use of animals in its curriculum which are required of all students. A summary of the main points follows:

  1. All animals used in any of the teaching programs of the College will be treated humanely. The College will not tolerate animal abuse or inhumane treatment of any kind.
     
  2. All courses (laboratories) requiring the use of animals will be reviewed and approved by the Curriculum Board of the College and the University Animal Care Committee.
     
  3. All courses (laboratories) requesting animal use will be evaluated by considering whether:
    1. the objective of the laboratory is primarily centered on learning a concept, or
    2. is primarily centered on gaining experience and proficiency in psychomotor skills and/or manual dexterity with certain techniques.
    If (a) is the primary focus of the exercise, the College recommends that alternatives to the use of animals be sought and implemented wherever possible to teach the principles involved. If (b) is the major emphasis, the College endorses the use of animals to educate our students in these areas.
     
  4. In those courses approved for animal use to teach medical and surgical principles and techniques, due care and consideration will be given to the number of animals required for the exercises, the invasiveness of the technique, the minimization of pain, and the frequency and intensity of use of the animal. The number and extent of these laboratories will be minimized to a level acceptable to the faculty of the College in keeping with our expectations for our graduates. Survival surgery laboratories will be limited to a select group of elective procedures routinely performed by entry-level general practice veterinarians.