Animal Care Committee Lethbridge Polytechnic is committed to providing humane treatment and care of animals in accordance with the standards and principles established by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC). These standards and principles apply to all uses of animals in teaching, testing and research.

Policy requires all animal users submit a protocol form to the Animal Care Committee for review and approval. This must be submitted and approved before:

  • any animal use in teaching, testing or research begins
  • the release of funds (in the case of funded research)
  • any animals are acquired, held or used

 

Meeting dates & protocol submission deadlines

The Animal Care Committee meets in January, April, August, and November.

The deadline for submission of new protocol applications, protocol renewals, or protocol amendments is three weeks before the first day of the month in which a quarterly meeting occurs (January, April, August, November).

If a protocol, protocol renewal, or protocol amendment is received by the ACC less than three weeks in advance, it will be reviewed at the subsequent meeting.

New teaching protocols must undergo Pedagogical Merit Assessment prior to ACC review.

Researchers must complete the first two microcredential courses (Introduction to Applied Research and Scholarship, and Introduction to Animal Research Ethics) plus the module that relates to their area of study (Wildlife, Fish, or Farm Animals). Contact the ACC coordinator for access to the courses.

Form links are below.

 

ACC responsibilities

The Animal Care Committee works to promote animal welfare and allay some of the public concerns for animal experimentation by ensuring:

  • the adequate care of animals in all stages of life
  • veterinary assistance in the case of sickness, injury or elective procedures
  • regular site visits are undertaken
  • each project is found to have scientific merit through independent peer review
  • the establishment and implementation of procedures corresponding with current veterinary standards
     

The Animal Care Committee has the responsibility to guarantee that no animal protocols move forward without prior approval. This involves:

  • providing all ACC members and animal users with access to CCAC guidelines
  • assisting animal users in completing and submitting the appropriate protocol form
  • approving and documenting all modifications to approved protocols before they are implemented
  • annually reviewing all on-going protocols
  • maintaining an appropriate appeal process
  • documenting and attaching all ACC discussions and decisions to the protocol

 

ACC authority

The Animal Care Committee has the authority to:

  • approve, decline or request modifications to animal use in teaching, testing or research
  • stop any objectionable procedure
  • immediately stop any use of animals that deviates from the approved use
  • have an animal killed humanely if deemed necessary

 

Animal care training

All students, staff and faculty who have no previous experience in animal care are required to take mandatory training prior to conducting research or teaching. To access the training modules, please contact the Animal Care Coordinator.

All students, staff, and faculty are required to complete 3 of 5 microcredential courses before full approval of the protocol is granted. No research or teaching using live animals may begin until proof of completion (copy of completion badge or similar) is received by the ACC. The modules that must be completed are: Introduction to Applied Research and Scholarship, Introduction to Animal Research Ethics, and the specific course that relates to the type of animal being studied or used in teaching (Fish, Wildlife, or Farm Animals).

 

ACC application form links

Applications must be received in full to be presented to the committee for review. All new protocols for teaching must first be reviewed by the Pedagogical Merit Review Committee (PMRC) before they are presented to the ACC.  If the PMRC does not recommend it, it will not be passed to the ACC for review. Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) will also review the Hazard Assessment Form included in the application prior to review by the ACC.  All new protocols are due three weeks prior to the first day of January, April, August, or November.

Complete the appropriate application below and submit it to the ACC coordinator.

Contact us

Please contact the ACC coordinator with any questions or concerns about animal care applications.