In This Section | Animal Utilization Form Instructions
Table of Contents
The operator of each research facility registered under the Animals for Research Act is required to prepare an annual report on animal use and acquisition according to Section 4, subsection 1 of Reg. 22,R. R. O. 1990. The report shall be submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) prior to the first day of March in the following year. The report shall provide the following information:
The numbers from all facilities are added to determine totals for the province. These totals are put into a report that is available to the public. Information identifying registered research facilities and the "types" and numbers of animals used in individual facilities is not released. The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) collects similar information and prepares a similar report. An effort is being made to harmonize the manner in which the CCAC and OMAFRA collect this information and prepare these reports. For this reason, the instructions for reporting use and acquisition are similar to instructions issued by the CCAC for the same purpose. DefinitionsAn animal is a living vertebrate. Animals are to be reported according to "type" as listed on the form rather than species. A "type" may be defined as a group of animals (which may include several species) referred to collectively by a name in common usage because they share many characteristics. For examples rats are a "type" or group of animals, which includes at least two species, Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus; turtles, tortoises and terrapins are categorized as "turtles". If a particular species does not fall under any of the "types" listed on the form, please write the name of the species under "Other" and indicate the number used. Attach a list on a separate piece of paper if necessary.
Research is the use of animals in connection with:
"Poultry" refers to domestic chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese.
"Dogs" refers to domesticated dogs.
"Cats" refers to domesticated cats
"Pound" refers to pounds in Ontario. Cats and dogs reported under this heading must be animals that were impounded in Ontario pursuant to a municipal by-law.
"Supply facility" means a premise in Ontario, other than a research facility, that is licensed under the Animals for Research Act for the purpose of breeding and rearing animals for use in research.
"Conditioning" includes procedures performed for the prevention and treatment of naturally occurring diseases, for grooming purposes and for the purpose of socialization. To condition has the same meaning. Research may be conducted, under the jurisdiction of an Animal Care Committee of a research facility registered under the Animals for Research Act, on premises in Ontario not owned or operated by the operator of the registered facility. These premises may be exempt from registration under the legislation according to Sections 8 and 9 of Reg. 22, R. R. O. 1990. "Research facility" for the purpose of this form includes any facility to which these exemptions apply. All animals used on premises operating under these exemptions must be reported on the Animal Utilization Form submitted by the operator of the registered facility overseeing the research.
Although anyone operating a research facility for less than 30 days in a year is not required to register the facility that year (Section 7 of Reg. 22, R. R.O. 1990), the operator is required to complete and submit the "Animal Utilization Form" to the Ministry.
Some facilities that offer teaching programs for veterinary technicians/technologists have made arrangements with local veterinarians (licensed under the Veterinarians' Act of Ontario) whereby students may visit the practices of these veterinarians to observe procedures performed on the animals belonging to the clients of these veterinarians. The students observe but do not perform procedures on the animals. These animals are not to be counted. Although the Animals for Research Act refers to "animals in the research facility", animals used in field studies are to be reported with certain exceptions that are described later in this document. In regards to any particular "type" of animal, the number used in field studies as opposed to those used in the research facility must be indicated in brackets beside the total number reported. For example if 2000 mice were used for research such that 1900 were domesticated white mice used in the facility and 100 were deer mice in a field study, mice would be reported as follows: Mice 2000 (100)A "non-recovery" procedure is any experiment or surgery performed on a dog or cat under anesthetic with the intention that the animal shall be euthanized without regaining consciousness. Dogs and cats that are anesthetized and used just once in a non-recovery procedure are included in this category. If a cat or dog is anesthetized more than once, it must not be included in the numbers of cats and dogs reported as being used in non-recovery procedures.
Acquisition of Dogs and Cats
The dogs and cats acquired from a pound in Ontario must be reported as "Source Pound" by the research facility obtaining the animals in the year they were obtained with the exception described in the following paragraph.
A research facility in Ontario may obtain dogs and/or cats from a pound, condition the animals and give/sell the animals to another research facility. Conditioning does not fall under the definition of research in the legislation. These animals must be included in Provincial totals. The first facility in Ontario to use the animals must report them as "Source Pound" in the year they were obtained by that facility. Records must include the pound of origin (and address), the date the animals left the pound, the name of the facility in which the animals were conditioned and the date they were acquired from the facility that conditioned them. If a dog or cat was obtained from a pound, conditioned in a research facility and shipped out of the Province without being used for research in Ontario, the facility that obtained the animals from the pound must report the animals as "Source Pound" in the year they left the province. Records must include the pound of origin (and address), the date the animals left the pound, the destination of the animals and the purpose served by the animals at that destination. A dog or cat might be obtained from a pound in Ontario in one year, used that year in the facility that obtained the animal from the pound and remain in the facility in subsequent years. This animal must be reported as "Source Pound" in the year it was obtained and "Source Research Facility" in the following years. In this way the total numbers of dogs and cats obtained from pounds in any one year can be accurately determined for that year. Although this animal would not be counted as a pound animal in subsequent years, it would always be a "random source animal coming from a pound". If a cat or dog is obtained by a facility from a pound in one year with the intent that it would be used in that facility the next year, that animal is to be counted as a "Source Pound" animal in the year it was obtained and as "Source Research Facility" in the next year. The numbers of dogs and cats reported by a research facility as "Source Research Facility" must include the numbers obtained from other research facilities in Ontario and animals born in the facility submitting this report. According to Section 10 of Reg. 22, R. R. O. 1990, dogs and cats may be obtained from "Other Sources" if not available from pounds in Ontario, supply facilities in Ontario, research facilities in Ontario or as donations from private individuals in Ontario. The numbers of dogs and cats obtained as donations from private individuals are not to be included under "Other Sources" unless the individuals live outside the Province. Cats and dogs donated by individuals within the Province must be reported under the heading "Source Donated by Owner" on the form. "Other Sources" would include, for example, research facilities and supply facilities outside of the Province and pet stores within the Province. Facilities obtaining dogs and cats from "Other Sources" must notify the Ministry via the Chief Veterinary Inspector of:
Notification must be provided prior to acquiring the animals. Please provide this information on a separate piece of paper with this report if it has not been submitted previously. Instructions for Reporting UseAnimals to be included:
The following animals must not be included:
Animals used in more than one study in any one year must not be counted more than once in that year. Thus any animal used in one facility in one year and sent to another facility for use in the same year must be reported only once e.g. by the first facility in which the animal was used in that year.
Animals used for more than one year must be included in the numbers for each year they are used. Use in this case means other than for breeding. If an animal is used in one registered research facility by an investigator working under the approval/auspices of the operator/Animal Care Committee of another registered research facility, the operator of the registered research facility that approved the project must report the animal. Please complete the form and send it to:Livestock Licensing
Coordinator Animals Used For Research/Teaching/Testing in a Research Facility During 2005Mammals
Avians
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
InquiriesIf you have any questions, please contact:Chief Veterinary Inspector
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300 Local: (519) 826-4047 E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca |
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