Terrestrial Animal Housing and Support Areas

Construction

• corridors (Guide, p 136): Any cracks or unsanitazable surfaces in wall, floor, ceilings?
• animal room doors (Guide, p 137): door sweeps present, windows in doors
• exterior windows (Guide, p 137)
• floors (Guide, p 137): Any cracks or unsanitazable surfaces?
• drainage (Guide, p 138): open floor drains in rodents areas?
• walls and ceilings (Guide, p 138): Any cracks or unsanitazable surfaces?
• heating ventilation and air conditioning (Guide, p 139)
• air flow is adequate
• air flow direction is appropriate for biosecurity and occupational safety (surgery, cagewash, etc)
• air flow data is available for all required areas (surgery, necropsy?)
• power and lighting (Guide, p 141): how are cycles controlled?
• noise control (Guide, p 142): if excessive, has it been measured, is there signage, are there limits established for occupational exposure, does is affect the animals/research?
• vibration control (Guide, p 142)
• environmental monitoring (Guide, p 143) Is there facility notification in the event of power failure, temperature deviation outside of accepted range or photoperiods alteration?

Room/Cage

• temperature and humidity (Guide, p 43): Are monitoring sheets recorded daily for indoor areas? Ask for the previous months sheets
• if adverse health effects associated with low humidity are present (ringtail), what is being done to increase relative humidity.
• ventilation and air quality (Guide, p 45)
• air flow is adequate
• air flow direction is appropriate for biosecurity and occupational safety (infected rooms, immune suppressed/barrier rooms, etc)
• illumination (Guide, p 47)
• noise and vibration (Guide, p 49)
• hazard: What is the necessary PPE for the room and is it available?

Primary Enclosure

• space meets physiologic, behavioral, and social needs (Guide, pp 51, 55-63) Overcrowded cages without IACUC approval for exception?
• secure environment provided (Guide, p 51)
• durable, nontoxic materials in good repair and no risk of injury (Guide, p 51) Any sharp edges, rust, loose wires? Cracked plastic caging?
• flooring is safe and appropriate for species (Guide, p 51)
• adequate bedding and structures for resting, sleeping, breeding (Guide, p 52)
• objective assessments of housing and management are made (Guide, p 52)
• procedures for routine husbandry are documented (Guide, p 52): Ask to see documentation for cleaning and sanitation
• socially housed animals can escape or hide to avoid aggression (Guide, p 55)
• cage height provides adequate clearance (Guide, p 56): Older rat and rabbit cages may not have adequate height. Animals must be able to stand in normal posture without touching the enclosure ceiling.
• animals express natural postures, can turn around, access food and water, and rest away from urine and feces (Guide, p 56) [must]
• rationale for Guide/USDA space exceptions approved by IACUC and based on performance indices (Guide, p 56)
• dogs and cats allowed to exercise and provided human interaction (Guide, p 58)
• agricultural animals are housed socially (Guide, p 60, WSU IACUC policy #30)
• food troughs and water devices for agricultural animals allow access for all animals (Guide, p 60) Are they clean and in good repair?

Environmental Enrichment, Behavioral and Social Management: WSU IACUC policy #30

• Does the facility have an Environmental Enrichment, Behavioral and Social Management SOP or is it part of an ASAF?
• structures and resources promote species typical behavior (Guide, pp 52-54)
• novelty of enrichment is considered (Guide, p 53)
• species specific plans for housing including enrichment, behavior and activity are developed and reviewed regularly by IACUC, researchers and veterinarian (Guide, pp 53, 58, 60, 63)
• animal care personnel receive training to identify abnormal animal behaviors (Guide, p 53): How is the training done and where is it documented?
• stability of pairs or groups is monitored for incompatibility (Guide, p 64)
• single housing is justified for social species (Guide, p 64): Is single housing approved by the IACUC or fall under WSU IACUC policy #30?
• single housing is limited to the minimum period necessary (Guide, p 64)
• additional enrichment for single housed animals is provided (Guide, p 64)
• single housing is reviewed regularly by IACUC and veterinarian (Guide, p 64)
• habituation to routine procedures is part of enrichment program (Guide, p 64)

Sheltered or Outdoor Housing: (e.g., barns, corrals, pastures, islands)

• Is fencing & any wooden surfaces (feeders) in good repair? Any sharp edges/wires?
• weather protection and opportunity for retreat (Guide, p 54) [must]
• appropriate size (Guide, p 54: there should be adequate shelter space for all the animals including submissive animals
• ventilation and sanitation of shelter (no waste/moisture build-up) (Guide, p 54)
• animal acclimation (Guide, p 55)
• social compatibility (Guide, p 55)
• roundup/restraint procedures (Guide, p 55)
• appropriate security (Guide, p 55)

Naturalistic Environments

• animals added /removed with consideration of effect on group (Guide, p 55)
• adequate food, fresh water, and shelter ensured (Guide, p 55)

Food

• feeding schedule and procedures including caloric intake management (Guide, pp 65-67)
• contamination prevention (Guide, p 65)
• vendor quality control (Guide, p 66)
• storage in sealed containers (Guide, p 66)
• expiration date labeling (Guide, p 66)
• vermin control (Guide, p 66)
• rotation of stocks (Guide, p 66)

Water

• ad libitum unless justified (Guide, pp 67-68)
• the frequency of water bottle changing/tank cleaning is regular and adequate
• outside water sources are protected from freezing
• electric heat sources for waterers are designed & placed to prevent electrical shocks
• QC procedures (Guide, pp 67-68)

Bedding and Nesting Materials

• species appropriate (Guide, pp 68-69)
• keeps animals dry (Guide, pp 68-69)
• QC procedures (Guide, pp 68-69)
• minimizes scientific variables (Guide, pp 68-69)

Sanitation

• frequency of bedding/substrate change (Guide, p 70)
• respiratory protection is available and in use during cage dumping
• cleaning and disinfection of microenvironment (Guide, pp 70-71): how often are cages changed? If > every 2 weeks for ventilated caging, is this guide exception listed on an IACUC approved SOP? If > every week for static caging, is this guide exception listed on an IACUC approved SOP?
• cleaning and disinfection of macroenvironment (Guide, p 72): Is the room cleaned and disinfected regularly? Is sanitation documented?
• cleaning and disinfection of laboratory, surgery, behavioral testing areas: Is the room cleaned and disinfected regularly? Is sanitation documented?
• assessing effectiveness (Guide, p 73, WSU IACUC policy #5)
• hand washing, cage washers and autoclaves: How is efficacy assessed?

Waste Disposal

• personnel use respiratory protection while dumping bedding (dumping station or other respiratory protection)
• procedures for collection (Guide, pp 73-74)
• procedures for storage and disposal (Guide, pp 73-74)
• hazardous wastes are rendered safe before removal from facility (Guide, pp 73- 74) [must] The hazard SOP is posted and the necessary PPE is present. Personnel are following the SOP
• animal carcasses (Guide, pp 73-74)

Pest Control

• regularly scheduled (Guide, p 74)
• documented program including control of rodent pests and insecticide use (Guide, p 74): SOP/documentation of vermin control is available.
If live traps are used, they are monitored & documented daily door sweeps are present and in good repair

Emergency, Weekend, and Holiday Animal Care

• care provided by qualified personnel every day (Guide, p 74): daily care sheets are filled out every day unless IACUC exempted. Ask to see previous month’s sheets
• provision for accessible contact information (Guide, p 74): emergency contact information is posted
• monitoring of backup systems (Guide, p 143)
• veterinary care available after hours, weekends, and holidays (Guide, pp 74, 114) [must]
• OCV notification policy is posted. If other than OCV veterinary services used, the other veterinary contact posted
• a disaster plan that takes into account both personnel and animals (Guide, p 75)
• Signage: whistle blower policy, emergency contact information

Identification

• cage/rack cards contain required information (Guide, p 75): animal id/description, source, date of arrival, DOB/age, IACUC/ASAF number, PI name
• Large animals (WSU IACUC SOP #7)
• genotype information included and standardized nomenclature used when applicable (Guide, p 75)

Record Keeping

• clinical records accessible and contain appropriate information (Guide, pp 75-76)
• all medical treatments are under a herd health SOP, ASAF or under direction of a veterinarian
• all treatments/procedures are documented with date and initials of provider
• if animals have had surgery, surgical records are accessible
• all animals used are listed on the IACUC animal tracking database
• all animals are under an active protocol. If not, they are on the holding protocol
• animal mortality and morbidity is documented via OCV database and/or other record
• records are provided when animals are transferred between institutions (Guide, p 75)

Breeding Genetics and Nomenclature

• appropriate genetic records, management and monitoring procedures (Guide, p 76)
• phenotypes that affect wellbeing are reported to IACUC and effectively managed (Guide, p 77) Adverse phenotypes are reported to the IACUC

Storage

• adequate space for equipment, supplies, food, bedding and refuse (Guide, p 141)
• Storage inside animal housing & use rooms is minimal and sanitizable (no excess clutter & cardboard boxes)
• Heavy items or chemicals are not stored on high shelves
• bedding in vermin-free area and protected from contamination(Guide, p 141)
• food in vermin-free, temperature and humidity controlled area and protected from contamination (Guide, p 141): The temperature is monitored regularly in the feed room and documented?
• refuse storage is separate (Guide, p 141)
• carcass and animal tissue storage is separate, refrigerated below 7ºC and cleanable (Guide, p 141): Carcass storage is properly labeled

Personnel

• adequate space for locker rooms, administration and training (Guide, p 135)
• personnel working with animals in the facility are listed on either an ASAF, a facility personnel ASAF or a Herd SOP approved by the WSU IACUC
• all personnel have completed an Animal Awareness Seminar and have signed the Animal Contact Program
• training has been conducted and documented for husbandry duties, equipment operation, chemical handling, security procedures, animal health monitoring, safe/humane animal handling, etc.
• training is documented. Staff training records are located:___________
• training is documented and signage is posted for cage washer emergency stop & egress

Animal Use Areas

• location is functional, secure and sanitizable as necessary

Biologic, Chemical, and Physical Hazards

• Appropriate chemical labeling, storage, mixing and use
• Annual certification of fume hoods, biosafety cabinets and anesthetic vaporizers
• Any anesthetic waste gases are appropriately scavenged
• Compressed gas cylinders are secured
• Appropriate signage and posting of SOPs and corresponding PPE available
• Any required animal restraint equipment (chutes, stocks, snares, restrainers) is available, in good repair
• Eye wash stations are flushed regularly and flushing documented
• Safe sharps disposal system available and used (Guide, p 74)

Appropriate Drug Storage

• control, expiration date monitoring, non-pharmaceutical drug approvals & DEA/WA licensing (Guide, pp 115, 122)

Euthanasia

• personnel are trained in euthanasia techniques
• CO2 flowmeters or pre-set meters are in use for rodent euthanasia
• animal euthanasia is conducted outside the animal housing room unless exempted
• animal death is verified by secondary means or monitoring