Attending Veterinarian & Veterinary Care Policy
ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ Policy 10.07.091
Original Adoption: January 28, 2013
Revised: May 23, 2024
Responsible Chancellor’s Cabinet Member: Vice Chancellor for Research
Responsible Department/Office: Animal Resources Center
POLICY STATEMENT
ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ (ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½) Attending Veterinarian (AV) is responsible for the health and well-being of all animals used by the institution. To fulfill this mission, the AV oversees the ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ Animal Resources Center (ARC) and has the direct authority to ensure the adequacy of animal care and use by ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½, irrespective of unit or departmental management, purpose, or funding. The AV reports directly to the designated Institutional Official (IO) and is a voting member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION
Adequate veterinary care is an essential component of an animal care and use program and is required by the Animal Welfare Regulations (AWRs) and Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The importance of adequate veterinary care is also emphasized in animal research guidelines and policies promulgated by scientific organizations.
It is the responsibility of ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ to support a comprehensive animal care and use program that ensures the health and well-being of all animals used by the institution. Clear provisions have been made at ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ to give the AV appropriate authority to execute a program of adequate veterinary care, including access to all animals.
DEFINITIONS
Adequate Veterinary Care: ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ follows the requirements set forth under 9 CFR 2.33 in the Animal Welfare Regulations as well as the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) position on adequate veterinary care.
Animal: For the purpose of this policy, animal refers to any live vertebrate.
Animal Resources Center (ARC): The ARC directly administers several ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ animal research facilities and houses ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½s Veterinary Services.
Animal Welfare Regulations: For the purpose of this policy, animal welfare regulations followed at ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ are directed by the resources provided in the ‘REFERENCES RELIED UPON’ section of this policy.
Attending Veterinarian (AV): The AV is a veterinarian who has training or experience in the care of the species being used by ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ as well as in laboratory animal science and medicine. The AV must be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Alaska. The AV reports directly to the VCR (the ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ designated Institutional Official (IO)) and oversees the ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ ARC.
Institutional Animal C