Necessity, Use, and Care of
Laboratory Dogs
at the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs
Committee on Assessment of the Use and Care of Dogs in Biomedical Research
Funded by or Conducted at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Institute for Laboratory Animal Research
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Board on Health Sciences Policy
Health and Medicine Division
A Consensus Study Report of
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, DC
www.nap.edu
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001
This activity was supported by Contract No. 36C24E18C0058 with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or agency that provided support for the project.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-67641-0
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-67641-X
Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/25772
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Suggested Citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Necessity, use, and care of laboratory dogs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25772.
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COMMITTEE ON ASSESSMENT OF THE USE AND CARE OF DOGS IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH FUNDED BY OR CONDUCTED AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
RHONDA CORNUM (Chair), TechWerks, Paris, KY
W. RON DEHAVEN (Vice Chair), DeHaven Veterinary Solutions, LLC, El Dorado Hills, CA
DONNA K. ARNETT, University of Kentucky, Lexington
WARREN CASEY, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC
CHRIS GREEN, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
JOAN C. HENDRICKS, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Emerita)
KATHRIN HERRMANN, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (until June 2019)
JONATHAN KIMMELMAN, McGill University, Montreal, QC
LEWIS B. KINTER, GLP Scientific Consulting, Kennett Square, PA
SARAH L. LATHROP, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
NANCY FIGLER MARKS, The University of Iowa, Iowa City
CHRISTIAN E. NEWCOMER, Independent Consultant, Brookeville, MD
WILLIAM Z. POTTER, Independent Consultant, Philadelphia, PA
DAVID M. POWELL, Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, MO
MARGARET (MIMI) FOSTER RILEY, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
RODNEY A. WHITE, Long Beach MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute, Long Beach, CA
Staff
REBECCA A. ENGLISH, Study Director, Board on Health Sciences Policy (from June 2019)
LIDA ANESTIDOU, Study Director, Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (until May 2019)
CAMILLA YANDOC ABLES, Senior Program Officer, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources
JENNA BRISCOE, Research Associate, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources
ALEX REPACE, Senior Program Assistant, Board on Health Sciences Policy (from November 2019)
KEIONA JONES, Senior Program Assistant, Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (until August 2019)
Science Writer and Editor
CAROL BERKOWER
ROBERT POOL
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Reviewers
This Consensus Study Report was reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in making each published report as sound as possible and to ensure that it meets the institutional standards for quality, objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process.
We thank the following individuals for their review of this report:
___________________
1 National Academy of Medicine.
Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations of this report nor did they see the final draft before its release. The review of this report was overseen by STEVE BARTHOLD, NAM, University of California, Davis, and ELI ADASHI, NAM, Brown University. They were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with the standards of the National Academies and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content rests entirely with the authoring committee and the National Academies.
Preface
This Consensus Study Report represents the culmination of almost 2 years of hard work and dedication of an exceptionally diverse committee of professionals, including industry and academic scientists, physicians, veterinarians, lawyers, and bioethicists. Initially we thought it would be fairly straightforward to answer the primary question, “whether dogs are or will continue to be necessary for any type of biomedical research directly related to the VA’s [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’] mission.” We heard from panels of experts and individual experts, conducted independent data analysis, and were addressed by the senior leadership of the VA’s research program. Committee subgroups also visited two VA research facilities. Based on those collective experiences, we initially believed that it would be possible to reach conclusions and make recommendations that all members of the committee could support.
What we all learned is that while facts are always facts, the emphasis that each individual places on each fact and the interpretation of a collection of facts leading to conclusions were widely disparate within this group. The differences seemed dependent on the discipline, each committee member’s personal and professional experiences and values, the prevailing attitude of the member’s usual constituency, and other, undefined factors. Despite sincere efforts by all to reach consensus, it was not possible. We believe the readers of this report will recognize the intellectual and professional honesty that went into both the majority and the minority conclusions and recommendations.
We want to thank all of the committee members and the experts who generously gave their time and expertise. Additionally, we wish to thank the entire staff at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for their tireless efforts to forge a path for us, their outstanding research ability, and their timeliness. Special recognition goes to our study director, Rebecca English, for her calming influence and leadership. Camilla Yandoc Ables and Jenna Briscoe were similarly indispensable in facilitating our requests and requirements for more and more data min-
ing. Keiona Jones and Alex Repace were masters of getting everyone where they needed to be, every time, with all of the support that was needed. The National Academies Research Center also provided invaluable research support, with special thanks to Jorge Mendoza-Torres.
Sincerely,
Rhonda Cornum, Chair
W. Ron DeHaven, Vice Chair
Committee on Assessment of the Use and Care of Dogs in Biomedical Research
Funded by or Conducted at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Contents
Recent Legislation Concerning the Use of Laboratory Dogs at the VA
The Committee’s Interpretation of Its Task
Terminology Used in This Report
2 LEGAL, SOCIAL, AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Historical Overview of Research Using Dogs
Legal Context for Using Laboratory Dogs in Biomedical Research
Standards for the Use and Welfare of Dogs in Biomedical Research
Social and Ethical Considerations
Ethical Considerations on the Use of Dogs in VA Research
Trends in Dog Use in U.S. Research Facilities
Laboratory Dog Use in Biomedical Research at the VA
Next Steps for the Use of Laboratory Dogs in Biomedical Research Related to the VA’s Mission
Operationalizing “Necessary” Areas of Agreement and Disagreement Within the Committee
Opportunities to Improve Biomedical Research Protocols and Review Processes at the VA
4 ALTERNATIVES TO THE USE OF LABORATORY DOGS
Current Status of Alternatives Development
Non-Animal Models: New Approach Methodologies
Current Knowledge in the Science of Animal Welfare: A Brief Overview
Additional Considerations for Enhancement of the Welfare of Laboratory Dogs
Considerations for Enhancement at the VA
B U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STATISTICS ON THE USE OF DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS IN RESEARCH
Boxes, Figures, and Table
BOXES
1-2 Terminology Related to Weighing the Risk of Harm Against Potential Benefit
FIGURES
3-2 The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) intramural canine research review process
TABLE
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