Reports
AAALAC Report - 2007
What is it?
AAALAC stands for Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care. It is an international non-profit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. This paperwork is the 2007 annual report prepared by OHSU for AAALAC. (more info below).
Interestingly, the primate center’s most recent AAALAC inspection occurred while PETA’s infiltrator was working for the center. That inspection resulted in the continued accreditation of the primate center and stands in sharp contrast to PETA’s claims.
What do they show?
Research institutions like OHSU are not required to be inspected and accredited by AAALAC. We choose to do it. In fact, OHSU’s primate center has been accredited for more than 30 uninterrupted years (since 1975). To be accredited, institutions undergo an extensive multi-day onsite inspection by international animal care experts. This occurs every 3 years. In addition, each accredited institution must file extensive annual reports.
Incident reports
OHSU’s primate center is currently home to about 4,300 monkeys and has an excellent record of animal care treatment (See USDA reports). That being said, occasionally incidents occur which highlight areas that can be improved. These documents illustrate that process and how events, even smaller sized events, can result in extensive changes to the way we do things. What are they?
Many of these reports began as email communications between veterinarian and administrators. Depending on the situation, some resulted in procedural changes.
What do they show?
In reading through the records you may notice that in some cases, such as during studies to develop new kinds of surgery and treatments, a limited number of animals have died. This is of course sad but a reality of the need for animals in research to perfect treatments before they are offered to humans and other animals in large numbers. In these cases, a limited number of animal lives have been lost to benefit countless humans and animals.
USDA Inspection Results
Here are copies of the United States Department of Agriculture’s inspection reports for the Oregon National Primate Research Center and associated documents from 2001 to 2007.
What are they?
The USDA is the organization charged with enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, a collection of laws that serve as the centerpiece (but not the sole centerpiece) of the country’s animal protection laws. The USDA conducts unannounced inspections approximately twice a year. The inspectors review animals, animal care facilities, they review recordkeeping and other practices.
What do they show?
These records are strong evidence of OHSU’s excellent record of animal care. A clean report (a clean bill of health) simply states that no issues of noncompliance were found. You will note that occasionally there are small infractions that are very rapidly addressed. Examples: (1) Drugs that had expiration dates just days before inspection. (2) A couple cases where animals were temporarily housed in slightly smaller caging.
The record in 2001 shows how a previous infiltration by a former PETA member resulted in a very short list of recommendations by the USDA (no violations, just recommendations) that were acted upon. Other documentation associated with these events is also included.
