OHS Policy: Animals in Research, Testing and Teaching
Adopted by the Board of Directors October 1993
The OHS knows that physical and psychological suffering by animals is incurred in experiments in the fields of psychology, toxicity testing, biomedical and drug development, wildlife research and teaching.
The goal of the OHS is to restrict the use of animals to those areas of research, testing and teaching which do not jeopardize their physical or psychological well-being. The need to use animals in research can, at the present time, only be tolerated if there is absolutely no alternative and the animals used are afforded complete protection from pain and stress.
The Humane Society recognizes that the use of some animals for research, testing and teaching in ways that jeopardize their physical or psychological well-being may not end in the immediate future.; It is the policy of the OHS to use every means in its power to reduce and end the suffering of animals for research, testing and teaching by:
- Promoting replacement of animal used in research, testing and teaching with alternative methods, refinement of techniques, and reduction in numbers. Greater efforts should be made by government, university, industrial and other research institutions to develop and use humane alternative techniques.
- Ensuring that animal housing facilities are designed to ensure physical, social and psychological well-being.
- Ensuring that appropriate exercise is provided.
- Appointing animal welfare representatives on all animal care and grant review committees. These committees must be accountable to the public.
- Opposing the importation of primates from the wild for research purposes.
- Opposing the use of restraining devices for any prolonged period.
- Opposing mandatory surrender of animals from pounds for research, testing or teaching purposes. The OHS will not release companion animals for research.
- Requiring education for all those involved with research animals to include courses in ethology, ethics, manipulative procedures and current laws, regulations, guidelines and codes of practice regarding laboratory animal care.
- Supporting legislation to prohibit elementary and secondary school students from performing experiments on animals which cause or could cause pain, suffering or death. Students at all levels who object to experimenting on animals or dissecting animals should be provided an opportunity to choose alternate projects, approved by their teaches, without a grade reduction.
- Requiring enforcement and improvement of pertinent laws relating to the use of animals in research, testing and teaching.
- Opposing the use of muscle relaxants or paralytics alone, without anesthetics. Anesthesia, tranquilization, analgesia and euthanasia must only be administered by trained researchers and technicians.
- Urging the ongoing review of the Canadian Council on Animal Care Guidelines for the "Care and Treatment of Animals in Research". It is recognized that these Guidelines represent the absolute minimal level of care available.
- Opposing procedures, experiments or animal use which involve needless repetition, or are from scientifically trivial ends, or which involve techniques for which satisfactory and humane alternatives have already been developed. The OHS is especially opposed to the use of animals for testing such items as cosmetic products, household cleaning goods, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. The OHS believes that all experimental and testing protocols utilizing animals should be subject to extensive ethical reviews.
