American Physiological Society

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Bioscience Briefing

For info about biomedical funding, animal research and other bioscience issues, click here.

Legislation Watch

So-called "Pet Safety Bills" don't protect pets but they do pose a threat to medical research. More information

Science Policy Announcements

For the latest news from the APS Science Policy click here.

Resource Book Now Available

Click here for more info on The APS Resource Book for the Design of Animal Exercise Protocols.

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APS Position Statements

Random-Source Animal Dealers

The American Physiological Society recognizes the importance of research that depends upon animals of large size, advanced age, and diverse genetic background. These are known as "random source animals," and, in many places, they are legally available at reasonable cost only from the Class B category of USDA-licensed dealers. Class B dealers are important due to many state and local laws that prohibit the transfer of abandoned and feral animals from pounds to research facilities. Until this regrettable situation can be changed, the APS will support all efforts to make the current USDA licensing system work as well as possible. We therefore support providing the USDA with appropriate funding to ensure adequate resources to conduct the necessary inspections and oversight.

The Animal Welfare Act is rooted in the desire to prevent pets from inadvertently becoming research subjects. The APS encourages researchers to actively promote policies to assure that their institutions utilize only dealers who comply fully with all Animal Welfare Act regulations. Researchers should be knowledgeable about where their institutions obtain random source animals and should be certain that incoming animals are screened for identifying marks or other signs that they might be lost pets.

In addition, researchers and research institutions should promote responsible pet ownership that can avert many situations in which pets get lost or come to harm. We encourage the public to have their pets neutered; identify pets with either tattoo or a chip implant as well as a collar; and keep pets protected in a home or yard.

Adopted by the American Physiological Society Council, June 1995