SCIENTIFIC AND HUMANE ISSUES IN THE USE OF RANDOM SOURCE DOGS AND CATS IN RESEARCH
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu
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NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the Committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health through Contract Number N-01-OD-4-2139 Task Order #207. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the National Institutes of Health, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the US government.
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COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFIC AND HUMANE ISSUES IN THE USE OF RANDOM SOURCE DOGS AND CATS IN RESEARCH
Members
Stephen W. Barthold (Chair),
University of California, Center for Comparative Medicine
Donald C. Bolser,
University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine
Kelly D. Garcia,
University of Illinois at Chicago
Joseph R. Haywood,
Michigan State University
Stuart E. Leland,
Wyeth Research
Lila Miller,
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Randall J. Nelson,
University of Tennessee
James Serpell,
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Michael R. Talcott,
Washington University School of Medicine
Robert A. Whitney,
U.S. Public Health Service (retired)
Staff
Christine Henderson, Project Director
Joanne Zurlo, Director
Lida Anestidou, Study Director
Kathleen Beil, Administrative Coordinator
Cameron Fletcher, Senior Editor
Rhonda Haycraft, Senior Project Assistant
Erin Sorrell, Mirzayan Fellow
INSTITUTE FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
Members
Stephen W. Barthold (Chair),
University of California, Center for Comparative Medicine, Davis, California
Kathryn A. Bayne,
Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International, Frederick, Maryland
Myrtle A. Davis,
National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
Jeffrey I. Everitt,
GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Comparative Medicine and Investigator Support, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
James G. Fox,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Division of Comparative Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Nelson L. Garnett,
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland (retired)
Estelle B. Gauda,
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Joseph W. Kemnitz,
University of Wisconsin, Primate Research Center, Madison, Wisconsin
Judy A. MacArthur Clark,
Home Office, London, England
Martha K. McClintock,
University of Chicago, Departments of Psychology and Comparative Human Development, Chicago, Illinois
Leticia V. Medina,
Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois
Timo Olavi Nevalainen,
University of Kuopio, National Laboratory Animal Center, Kuopio, Finland
Bernard E. Rollin,
Colorado State University, Department of Animal Sciences, Fort Collins, Colorado
Abigail L. Smith,
University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stephen A. Smith,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Blacksburg, Virginia
James E. Womack,
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Staff
Joanne Zurlo, Director
Lida Anestidou, Program Officer
Kathleen Beil, Administrative Coordinator
Rhonda Haycraft, Senior Project Assistant
Cameron Fletcher, Managing Editor,
ILAR Journal
Erin Sorrell, Mirzayan Fellow
INSTITUTE FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals (2009)
Recognition and Alleviation of Distress in Laboratory Animals (2008)
Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy (2007)
Overcoming Challenges to Develop Countermeasures Against Aerosolized Bioterrorism Agents: Appropriate Use of Animal Models (2006)
Guidelines for the Humane Transportation of Research Animals (2006)
Science, Medicine, and Animals: Teacher’s Guide (2005)
Animal Care and Management at the National Zoo: Final Report (2005)
Science, Medicine, and Animals (2004)
The Development of Science-based Guidelines for Laboratory Animal Care: Proceedings of the November 2003 International Workshop (2004)
Animal Care and Management at the National Zoo: Interim Report (2004)
National Need and Priorities for Veterinarians in Biomedical Research (2004)
Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research (2003)
International Perspectives: The Future of Nonhuman Primate Resources, Proceedings of the Workshop Held April 17-19, 2002 (2003)
Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Nonhuman Primates (2003)
Definition of Pain and Distress and Reporting Requirements for Laboratory Animals: Proceedings of the Workshop Held June 22, 2000 (2000)
Strategies That Influence Cost Containment in Animal Research Facilities (2000)
Microbial Status and Genetic Evaluation of Mice and Rats: Proceedings of the 1999 US/Japan Conference (2000)
Microbial and Phenotypic Definition of Rats and Mice: Proceedings of the 1998 US/Japan Conference (1999)
Monoclonal Antibody Production (1999)
The Psychological Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates (1998)
Biomedical Models and Resources: Current Needs and Future Opportunities (1998)
Approaches to Cost Recovery for Animal Research: Implications for Science, Animals, Research Competitiveness and Regulatory Compliance (1998)
Chimpanzees in Research: Strategies for Their Ethical Care, Management, and Use (1997)
Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals (1997)
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (1996)
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals—Korean Edition (1996)
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals—Chinese Version (1996)
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals—Spanish Version (1996)
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals—Russian Version (1996)
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals—French Version (1996)
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals—Taiwanese Edition (1996)
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals—Portuguese Edition (1996)
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals—Japanese Edition (1996)
Rodents (1996)
Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals, Fourth Revised Edition (1995)
Laboratory Animal Management: Dogs (1994)
Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals (1992)
Education and Training in the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: A Guide for Developing Institutional Programs (1991)
Companion Guide to Infectious Diseases of Mice and Rats (1991)
Infectious Diseases of Mice and Rats (1991)
Immunodeficient Rodents: A Guide to Their Immunobiology, Husbandry, and Use (1989)
Use of Laboratory Animals in Biomedical and Behavioral Research (1988)
Animals for Research: A Directory of Sources, Tenth Edition and Supplement (1979)
Amphibians: Guidelines for the Breeding, Care and Management of Laboratory Animals (1974)
Copies of these reports can be ordered from the National Academies Press
(800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313
Preface
The ancient Indian fable of the Blind Men and the Elephant describes a group of blind men who each touch a different part of an elephant and, when they compare their individual impressions of the animal before them, discover that they are in complete disagreement. While assorted versions of this fable vary about the contentiousness of the debate and how it is resolved, the primary lesson is that opinions can differ among individuals. The secondary message is that differences must be resolved in order to reach consensus. Such were the challenges of this committee.
The National Academies endeavor to appoint committees that represent a broad range of perspectives and expertise in order to accomplish a fair and balanced study, and this committee was no exception. But what seemed to be a relatively straightforward task in determining the desirability and necessity of random source dogs and cats from Class B dealers for National Institutes of Health (NIH) research turned out to be far more complex than the committee initially realized. The complexity goes back to the very origins of medical research and the animal protectionist movement, and is steeped in the American public’s emotional ties to dogs and cats (which Frank Loew1 termed “America’s Sacred Cows”) and changing trends in public attitudes toward research using these familiar animals. The American public has insisted that their pets be protected, resulting in pas-
sage of the original Animal Welfare Act in 1966, with several subsequent revisions. The enforcement arm of the Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has also repeatedly amended its Animal Welfare Regulations to better enforce the Act. Despite these efforts, infractions continue, including recent egregious ones that sparked renewed concern by the public and Congress, which was the impetus for convening this committee.
In contrast to the emotion and conviction that pervade public sentiment toward dogs and cats, the scientific community views the “elephant” rationally. The U.S. dog and cat population, with its many breeds and numbers, represents a rich resource for advancing medical knowledge through discovery and use of models with homology to many human diseases.
The panel of experts on this committee represented a broad spectrum of perspectives, and endeavored to approach its task without bias, despite strong and admittedly emotional personal opinions. As Chairman of this committee, I was impressed that its members set aside their individual differences in order to reach consensus, and as a result were able to factually describe the entire elephant, with all of its complexity.
The committee acknowledges with appreciation a number of individuals who provided input and testimony from their varied perspectives for the committee’s deliberations. At the first meeting, in Washington, DC, on October 7, 2008, the following individuals presented information to the committee:
Kimberley Cohen, Covance
W. Ron DeHaven, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Jerry DePoyster, USDA/APHIS
David A. Kass, Johns Hopkins University
Cathy Liss, Animal Welfare Institute
Stacey Pritt, Covance
Margaret Snyder, NIH sponsor and contact person
Bill Yates, University of Pittsburgh
The following additional individuals presented information to the committee during its January 12, 2009, meeting in Washington, DC:
Stephen O’Brien, National Cancer Institute, NIH
Robert Willems, USDA/APHIS
Others who provided invaluable assistance to the committee include:
Chester Gipson, USDA/APHIS
Jodie Kulpa-Eddy, USDA/APHIS
The committee also received written material submitted for consideration by the American Physiological Society, the Humane Society of the United States, and individuals with business or personal interests in the subject of the committee’s deliberations. In addition, the committee received information from several Class B dealers in response to specific questions posed by the committee.
The draft of this report was reviewed by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the Report Review Committee of the National Research Council (NRC). The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the committee in making its published report as sound as possible, and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberation process. The committee thanks the following individuals for their review of the draft report:
B. Taylor Bennett, Management Consultant
Larry Carbone, University of California—San Francisco
Jerry Collins, Yale University
Linda Cork, Stanford University
W. Ron DeHaven, American Veterinary Medical Association
Betty Goldentyer, U.S. Department of Agriculture
David A. Kass, Johns Hopkins University
Hilton Klein, Taconic
Kathy E. Laber-Laird, University of South Carolina
Scott Marshall, Marshall BioResources
Howard G. Rush, The University of Michigan
Marty Stephens, The Humane Society of the United States
Victoria Voith, Western University
Craig L. Wardrip, The University of Chicago
Bill Yates, University of Pittsburgh
The review of the report was overseen by:
Peter Ward, University of Michigan
Peter Raven, Missouri Botanical Garden
Appointed by the NRC, these individuals were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring Committee and the institution.
I extend my sincere appreciation to the members of this Committee, who invested considerable time, effort, and interest in this report. Although we had our distinct perspectives on “the elephant,” the individual members always remained respectful of one other and worked as a team with a unified concern for animal welfare. In addition, I acknowledge the assistance of Christine Henderson. This was her first effort at assisting with an Academy report, and I trust not her last.
Stephen W. Barthold, Chair
Committee on Scientific and Humane Issues in the Use of Random Source Dogs and Cats in Research