Research, Testing and Teaching Animal Rehoming Policy

Purpose

This policy relates to rehoming animals that have been bred and/or used for research, testing and teaching at the University of Otago into private ownership. It outlines the procedures for transferring research animals to private ownership to ensure their welfare post-research, specifying eligibility criteria, adopter responsibilities, health assessments, and compliance with relevant legislation, with oversight by the Animal Welfare Office and periodic policy review.

The purpose of rehoming is to offer an animal a life worth living beyond its use as a research animal.

Organisational scope

This policy applies to any animals held by the University of Otago for research, testing or teaching that may qualify for rehoming.

Definitions

Adopter

A private person or organisation undertaking to accept permanent ownership and responsibility for any animal found suitable for rehoming.

Animal

Any live animal that is not a human and is not in a pre-natal, pre-hatched, larval, or other such developmental stage, as defined in Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Laboratory Animal

Any species of animal that has been used for research, testing or teaching at the University of Otago including but not limited to mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, sheep, pigs, birds, frogs, lizards, and fish.

Manipulation

Interfering with the normal physiological, behavioural, or anatomical integrity of an animal, as defined in Section 3 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Rehoming

Refers to the transfer of a University of Otago research animal into the care of a private person or organisation outside of a research environment.

Research, Testing and Teaching

Any work or teaching that involves the manipulation of an animal, including breeding for the purpose of producing offspring that may in future undergo manipulation, as defined in Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Content

1. General

   1. The Animal Welfare Act 1999 does not prevent rehoming of Animals used in Research, Testing and Teaching. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) supports Research, Testing and Teaching organisations to consider Rehoming Laboratory Animals as an alternative to euthanasia, where appropriate and in the interests of the Animal.
   2. Whether an Animal may be Rehomed after it is no longer required for experimental procedures will be addressed at the study design stage and reviewed as required during the study.
   3. Animals which cannot be used in a Rehoming program include (but are not limited to) the following:
      1. Any animal categorised as a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO);
      2. Any animal treated with infectious or cytotoxic substances during its experimental life;
      3. Any animal deemed unsuitable by the Institutional Veterinarian for any health or behavioural reasons.
   4. Opportunities to Rehome Animals should be considered wherever possible, if it is in the best interests of the Animal. The subjective experience of the Animal should be the overarching consideration when deliberating on the Rehoming of an Animal.
   5. Requests to Rehome an Animal must be directed to the Animal Welfare Office, who are responsible for working with interested parties, approving as Adopter as suitable, and keeping records of adopted Animals.
   6. Any person or organisation wishing to adopt a retired research animal must demonstrate the capacity and commitment to provide a safe, stable, and caring home where the Animal’s wellbeing will be a priority for the remainder of its life.
   7. Animals must be desexed prior to Rehoming unless the rationale for fertile Animals is approved by the Animal Welfare Office in conjunction with the Animal Ethics Committee.
   8. The University of Otago Media Office will be informed of all Rehoming events.
   9. This policy will be reviewed after 12 months with regard to its implementation and administration costs.

2. Relevant considerations

   1. Animals being Rehomed should be physically healthy and not show adverse behavioural issues that would interfere with their ability to integrate into private ownership.
   2. The risk to public health and safety must be assessed as very low for any Animal being considered for Rehoming. This assessment must be performed with input from a University of Otago Veterinarian.
   3. Rehoming will be done in accordance with the Wildlife Act 1953 and the Department of Conservation guidelines.
   4. The differences between both the social environment (contact with both human and non-human animal species) as well as the non-social environment (visual, auditory and olfactory stimuli the Animal may encounter) must be considered. The difference between the pre- and post-Rehoming environments will influence the amount of care required to avoid welfare issues for the Animal, and safety issues for the Adopter, as it adapts to a new situation.

3. Rehoming expectations

   1. Social Animals will not be Rehomed as single animals.
   2. Information must be gathered from potential Adopters to assess the suitability of the post-adoption environment adequately before releasing any Animal.
   3. The transition and adaptation of the Animal to the new environment, the time investment requirement and financial investment requirement need to be made clear to the Animal Adopter prior to adoption taking place.
   4. At Rehoming the Adopter will be responsible for all subsequent costs associated with the Animal’s care, i.e., maintenance (food, water, housing and environment, enrichment) and preventative care (veterinary care) as required for the species being adopted.

Related Policies, Procedures, and forms

• Animal Welfare Act 1999
• Wildlife Act 1953

Contact for further information

If you have any queries regarding the content of this policy or need further clarification, contact:

The University of Otago Animal Welfare Office
Email office@awo.otago.ac.nz