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  • Protocol Review
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Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Pet-assisted therapy

Lab Animal volume 43, pages 122–123 (2014)Cite this article

At first review of this scenario, our impression was that it did not require IACUC approval. The scenario describes the use of privately owned pets for research on human subjects in a hospital setting. One must remember that the research subject of this study is the human patient—not the patient's pet dog. The pilot investigation does not include any animal research, teaching or testing, and neither institution (academic or hospital) has ownership of the animals. In addition, this study is not currently supported by funding from the Public Health Service (PHS). The scenario did not indicate whether any of the entities involved are accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International.

Ownership and funding as related to the need for animal program oversight is addressed by AAALAC International (http://www.aaalac.org/accreditation/faq_landing.cfm#A1) and by PHS guidance1: “The PHS Policy covers live vertebrate animals used or intended for use in research, research training, and biological testing activities conducted or supported by the PHS. The PHS Policy and the Animal Welfare Act and Regulations (AWAR) do not distinguish between animals owned by the institution and privately owned animals. Pets used in research must be covered under an IACUC-approved protocol. The institution must have an OLAW-approved Animal Welfare Assurance covering all performance sites. The institution should ensure that the informed consent of the owner is obtained prior to the conduct of the research. The institution may want to involve their legal counsel in the development of informed consent documents.”

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References

  1. Public Health Service. Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals—Frequently Asked Questions. Applicability of the PHS Policy, Question No. A7. (US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 2006; revised 2013).

  2. Public Health Service. Sample Animal Welfare Assurance for Domestic Institutions (US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 2012).

  3. Public Health Service. Obtaining an Assurance (US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 2012).

  4. Institute for Laboratory Animal Research. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 8th edn. (National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2011).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Laboratory Animal Research, Fisher is Clinical Veterinarian, Wagner is Chief of Surgical Veterinary Services, and Newsome is Clinical Director, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.,

    Amanda Fisher,  Robert Wagner &  Joseph T. Newsome

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  1. Amanda Fisher
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  2. Robert Wagner
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  3. Joseph T. Newsome
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Fisher, A., Wagner, R. & Newsome, J. Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Pet-assisted therapy. Lab Anim 43, 122–123 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.499

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