The Ontario Animals for Research Act

The Ontario Animals for Research Act continues to be one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation protecting research animals in North America. Since May 1971, the Act has provided a focus for humane care and use of all animals in research through minimum standards. The Act requires all researchers to be accountable to animal care committees for their use of animals.

Originally, the Animals for Research Act was a response to the needs of medical research for a regulated source of dogs that did not rely on animal dealers. The Act eliminates the chance of dognapping for research.

The Animals for Research Act protects all vertebrates including fish, rodents, reptiles, birds, primates, and livestock. Fifty percent of the animals used in research and testing are fish.

In addition to medical research, the Act also covers animal use in educational exhibits, classroom and laboratory teaching. Community colleges, public, separate and private schools, science centres and teaching displays are all governed by the Act.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food registers all research facilities in Ontario. Facilities must meet the minimum requirements of the regulations. The Director of the Animal Industry Branch may refuse to renew or suspend a registration of a facility that has not met the requirements of the Act and Regulations.

Regulations assure the well-being of animals and competence of staff.

Objectives of the Act:

• To maintain a minimum standard of care and well-being for all animals used in research.
• To protect research animals from unnecessary pain.
• To assure that dogs used for research are obtained legally and are not wanted as pets.

Key Elements of the Act:

1. Minimum Standards for Housing and Care

• The regulations set the minimum standards for housing and care of all research animals. These include standards for cage and pen size, construction, maintenance and cleanliness of animal rooms.
• Proper food, water and bedding are also required. Ventilation, temperature, and humidity of the animal rooms must be suitable for the comfort of the animals. Secure transportation containers, safe vehicles and competent animal attendants are also assured.
• All surgical facilities and procedures must be consistent with established veterinary practice. The surgical standards for dogs, cats and livestock are the same as those required in private veterinary hospitals.

2. Animal Care Committees

• Every research facility must have an in-house animal care committee. One member of the committee must be a veterinarian. Many committees now have a public representative who has no involvement with the research facility.
• This committee's purpose is to assure the well-being of the research animals and the avoidance of unnecessary suffering. The members are present in the facility, monitor research activities and meet regularly to assure the minimum standards of animal husbandry, management, training of staff, disease control, housing and environmental conditions. The committee is responsible for the proper use of anaesthetics and analgesics in preventing unnecessary pain.

3. Research Proposals

• Every researcher must submit a research proposal to the animal care committee before starting any research. The proposal, or "protocol," outlines all the animal procedures and the number and types of animals needed.
• All protocols must be filed with the animal care committee before the initiation of any research. The committee can order changes to any procedure.
• To prevent unnecessary pain, the Act requires adequate use of anaesthetics and analgesics on research animals. The research protocol outlines the types of anaesthetics used. All anaesthetic use is subject to approval of the animal care committees.
• An animal care committee may not approve a research procedure if it believes that the animals would be subject to unnecessary pain. The Act gives the committee the authority to issue orders to stop any research.

4. Veterinary Inspectors

• Ministry veterinarians inspect registered research facilities. The inspections are unannounced. The inspectors have the power to enter any premise in which they believe animal research is taking place.
• The responsibilities of the inspectors include:
  • inspection of animal housing
  • inspection of procedure and surgery rooms
  • examination of animals
  • research proposal review
  • monitoring performance of the animal care committee
• Inspectors can request hearings to refuse, refuse to renew, or revoke registrations of research facilities. Facilities not following the Act and regulations can face court charges.

5. Dog Pounds and Supply Facilities

• Before the Animals for Research Act, animal dealers sold cats and dogs to research facilities. There was no control over the industry. Often housing facilities were inadequate. Furthermore, there was no method to assure that research animals had not been stolen from owners.
• Today, a small percentage of dogs and cats used in research are purchased from pounds. Dealers are not permitted. Only suitable dogs and cats that would otherwise be destroyed are purchased for medical research. Unhealthy, small and old animals are not suitable. The Act prohibits the killing of an impounded animal that has been requested by a research facility. The Act provides the legal framework for the use of pound animals in research. There are no powers for seizure in the Act.
• The Animals for Research Act regulates and inspects the source of animals used in Ontario research facilities. Both pounds and animal breeding establishments are inspected by animal care inspectors. These visits are unannounced. The minimum housing and care standards set out by the Act for these facilities have improved the well-being of these animals.

6. Pet Protection

• Low price limits on pound animals assure that only unwanted animals are sold to research. The Animals for Research Act protects pet animals by requiring that:
  • The pound keeper keep an impounded dog or cat for at least 3 full days. This redemption period does not include the day the animal entered the pound or any days the pound remains closed to the public. After the redemption period has expired, the pound keeper may keep the animal for as long as desired.
  • During the redemption period, the pound keeper take all reasonable steps to find the owner.
  • Records be kept on all impounded animals.