Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, Yale University

Yale University
Institutional Animal Care
& Use Committee
New Haven CT
USA 06510

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Policy on Humane Euthanasia of Laboratory Animals

Animals must be euthanized by humane methods as described in the 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. Investigators may choose to have the Yale Animal Resources Center (YARC) perform this procedure. YARC requires investigators or their designee to legibly complete and sign a Euthanasia cage card for each animal or cage of animals to be euthanized. Every animal must have access to food and water and be housed within cage density guidelines until they are euthanized.

The Veterinary Clinical Service (VCS) staff has the authority to use professional judgement to request or perform euthanasia when they encounter conditions that have placed research animals under severe, unanticipated pain or distress that has not or cannot, in their professional judgment, be relieved in a timely manner by alternative methods. VCS staff is obliged to make a clear pre-emptive effort to contact investigators and/or their designee to discuss the options, including euthanasia, for relieving the pain or distress. However, the veterinarian has the authority to treat an animal or order euthanasia without prior approval from the responsible or designated personnel.

In the event that euthanasia has been ordered without prior approval from the responsible or designated personnel, the veterinarian must inform the PI, Director of YARC, the Manager of Regulatory and Safety Services, and the Director of the IACUC, in writing, of the circumstances that lead to the euthanasia order.

APPROVED BY YALE UNIVERSITY IACUC: 3/20/02