Animal Ethics and Care Program Policies and Procedures

Senate-level policies outline core roles and responsibilities for the program and includes terms of reference for the senior administrator with overarching responsibility for the program.

• MAPP 7.12 outlines procedures that must be used by animal-based scientists with Animal Care Commitee-approved Animal Use Protocols. (updated 6/16)

Western's Animal Care Committee (ACC) is responsible for overseeing all aspects of animal ethics, care and use associated with Western's research community, and for working with animal-based scientists, animal care personnel, and the institutional administration in accordance with all regulatory and institutional policies and guidelines.

• ACC terms of reference (updated 5/24)
• ACC Working Groups Terms of Reference (approved 5/24)
• Development and Maintenance of AECP Policies and Procedures (POL-001) (updated 8/24)
• Review Fees for AUPs Funded by For-Profit Entities (sent 3/22)

The Animal Use Protocol (AUP) is the ACC's animal ethics form that contains details of AUP holders' intended live vertebrate animal care and use, which must be reviewed by the ACC in advance of animal-based science activities.

General requirements for New and Continuing AUPs

• Animal Use Protocols Policy-A (POL-002-A) (updated 7/24)

Annual Renewal requirements

• Animal Use Protocols Policy-B-Annual Renewals (POL-002-B) (approved 04/24)

AUP Modification requirements

• Animal Use Protocols Policy-C-AUP Modifications (POL-002-C) (approved 03/24)

Pilot Study requirements

• Animal Use Protocols Policy-D-Pilot Studies (POL-002-D) (approved 09/23)

Breeding Colonies requirements

• Animal Use Protocols Policy-Breeding (POL-002-E) (approved 04/24)

AUP review procedures

• AUP Review Processes for Principal Investigators (GUID-002) (approved 04/24)

Scientific Merit Review

• Scientific Merit Review Policy (POL-13) (updated 7/24)
• SMR Procedures (PROC-013) (approved 7/24)
• SMR Review Request Form (APP1) (updated 7/24)
• SMR Reviewer Form (APP2) (updated 7/24)

Pedagogical Merit Review

• Pedagogical Merit Review Policy (POL-014) (updated 7/24)
• PMR Procedures (PROC-014) (updated 7/24)
• PMR Review Request Form-Non-Expedited (APP1) (updated 7/24)
• PMR Reviewer Form-Non-Expedited (APP2) (updated 7/24)
• Expedited PMR Review Request Form (APP3) (updated 7/24)
• Expedited PMR Reviewer Form (APP4) (updated 7/24)
• Tips for Completing the Pedagogical Merit Review Request Form (APP5) (approved 7/24)

Multi-Jurisdictional Animal-Based Science

• Multi-Jurisdictional Animal-Based Science Policy (POL-015) (updated 7/24)

The Institutional Animal User Training Program is a core pre-requisite to work with live animals.

• Institutional Animal User Training Program Policy (POL-017) (approved 04/24)
• Procedures for Institutional Animal User Training (PROC-017) (approved 09/24)
• Training exemption form (APP2) (approved 11/20)

Laboratory Animal Facilities Policy

• Laboratory Animal Facilities Policy (POL-023) (updated 1/23)

Research Animal Procurement

• Research Animal Procurement Policy (POL-008) (updated 7/24)

Use of Extra-Vivarial Spaces

• Animal Holding and Use Within Extra-Vivarial Spaces Policy (POL-016) (updated 1/23)
• Procedure for Requesting Animal Holding or Use Within Extra-Vivarial Spaces (PROC-016) (updated 1/23)
• Extra-Vivarial Space request (APP1) (updated 1/23)

Animal Husbandry

• Animal Husbandry Policy (POL-010) (updated 10/21)

Procedures within Animal Holding Rooms

• Procedures Within Animal Holding Rooms Policy (POL-011) (approved 10/23)

Inclusion of RVTs in Animal Use Protocols

• Inclusion of RVTs in Animal Use Protocols (POL-006) (approved 02/24)
• RVT Exemption Request Process (PROC-006) (approved 02/24)
• RVT Exemption Request Form (approved 02/24)

Animal Health Biosecurity Program

• Animal Health Biosecurity Program (POL-024) (updated 04/24)

Animal Care and Use Records

• Animal Care and Use Records Policy (POL-003) (updated 8/24)

Animal Welfare Assessments

• Animal Welfare Assessments Policy (POL-021) (updated 7/24)

Sick Animal Response Program

• Sick Animal Response Policy (POL-009) (updated 3/21)
• Procedures (PROC-009) (updated 5/21)

The Post-Approval Monitoring Program, as mandated by the Canadian Council on Animal Care, requires post-approval oversight of animal-based science activities to ensure practice aligns with the AUP and institutional policies and procedures.

• Post-Approval Monitoring Program Policy (POL-005) (approved 6/24)
• ACC Site Visits Policy (POL-019) (updated 10/23)
• ACC Site Visit Procedures (PROC-019) (updated 10/23)
• PAM Visits by Animal Health Professionals Policy (POL-020) (approved 6/24)
• PAM Visits Procedures (PROC-020) (approved 6/24)
• Concerns Policy (POL-004) (updated 1/23)
• Procedures for Responding to Concerns (PROC-004) (updated 1/23)
• Concern Report Form (01/23)

As mandated by the Canadian Council on Animal Care, Western requires a comprehensive response plan to crises specific to areas where animals are housed and used.

• Crisis Management Program Policy (POL-022) (updated 08/24)
• Crisis Management Program for Western's Animal Holding/Procedure Areas & Field Locations SOP (updated 05/23)
• Quick Guide-Emergency Procedures for Animal Holding Areas (updated 05/23)
• Crisis Response Scenario Record (updated 05/23)