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Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Finches should be included

Lab Animal volume 41, pages 151–152 (2012)Cite this article

In the US, the management, housing and care of animals intended for research or experimental purposes are regulated by federal legislations1. Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), warm-blooded animals used in research, testing, experimentation or for exhibition purposes or as pets are covered. Birds are excluded only when those birds were specifically bred for use in research or are used or intended for use for agricultural purposes2.

The AWA regulations include pet bird breeders whose business involves breeding and raising birds for the sole purpose of maintaining breeding colonies of birds, bird dealers who are involved in purchase and resale of birds, and bird exhibitors who are involved in showing and displaying birds to the public (http://www.proaviculture.com/NAWAProposaltoUSDA.pdf). Therefore, the birds purchased from the commercial pet bird breeder would be covered under the AWA regulations, and should be included in the annual report sent to the USDA by the institution.

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References

  1. Kalmar, I.D., Janssens, G.P.J. & Moons, C.P.H. Guidelines and ethical considerations for housing and management of psittacine birds used in research. ILAR J. 51, 409–423 (2010).

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  2. Animal Welfare Act and Regulations. 9 CFR.

  3. Huerkamp, M.J. & Archer, D.R. Animal acquisition and disposition. in The IACUC Handbook 2nd edn. (eds. Silverman, J., Suckow, M.A. & Murthy, S.) (CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2007).

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  4. USDA, APHIS, Animal Care. Policy #17. Animal Care Resource Guide Policies (25 August 2006). http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/policy/policy17.pdf

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Satheesan is a Laboratory Animal Medicine Fellow/PhD student, and Adamson is a Clinical Veterinarian and Assistant Research Professor at City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA.,

    Sangeetha Satheesan &  Trinka Adamson

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  1. Sangeetha Satheesan
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  2. Trinka Adamson
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Satheesan, S., Adamson, T. Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Finches should be included. Lab Anim 41, 151–152 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0612-151c

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