Great Eastern University (GEU)’s research portfolio includes considerable animal use activities that primarily involve mice and rats. GEU’s Attending Veterinarian, Tracy Thompson, recognized that the number of researchers at GEU was increasing and that, based on the ongoing trend, vivarium space would be at capacity in less than a year. Thompson broached the space concern with the Institutional Official (IO), explaining that GEU needed to expand the vivarium by the end of the year or GEU’s ability to accommodate new research activities would be limited. The IO agreed to fiscally support adding new housing space adjacent to GEU’s largest vivarium, which was already at its maximum capacity.
Construction started immediately. Although the new space was not structurally affecting the current vivarium, the construction resulted in excessive noise and vibration within the existing vivarium space. Researchers immediately expressed concern to Thompson; they noticed behavioral changes in their animals and decreased numbers of offspring being produced in critical strains. Thompson explained that the physical plant directors assured her there would be no impact on the current vivarium and, that unfortunately, the circumstances prevented the relocation of animals since there simply was not available space. The veterinary staff agreed to increase animal “well-visits” to ensure ongoing observation of the affected animals.
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