Statement on Adoption and Retirement of Research Animals

As a coalition of 22 member societies representing over 110,00 biomedical scientists in the biological and biomedical sciences, FASEB supports the humane use of laboratory animals in research and recognizes the value and importance of appropriate animal accommodation upon completion of research studies. Therefore, where appropriate, we support the adoption and retirement of healthy research animals into private homes or sanctuaries provided that the animal presents no threat to its new environment through the spread of transgenes or pathogens and animal welfare is maintained in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations, and the Public Health Service (PHS) policy. While many research institutions have established adoption policies and programs, the Federation encourages all institutions to develop and implement guidelines if not yet in place.

Federal agencies have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to animal welfare, including potential adoption and retirement to sanctuaries. The USDA Title 9 Code of Federal Regulations offer institutions the option to develop an adoption policy, and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) supports adoption so long as the safety and protection of animals are upheld. FASEB recognizes that adoption cannot be accomplished for all animals, including those of species unsuitable for pet ownership or those with certain health conditions or temperaments, particularly if a new environment jeopardizes the animal’s welfare. Therefore, FASEB strongly encourages stakeholders to consider a variety of specific factors when preparing policies and defining eligibility for research animal retirement or adoption, consistent with the recommendations of the National Institute of Health (NIH), the position of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and the guidelines set forth by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. 

Importantly, adoption and retirement should require the approval of the Attending Veterinarian or designee to determine the animal’s health condition, temperament, suitability for rehoming, and ability for travel. The Attending Veterinarian or designee should have the authority to deny adoption requests. Additionally, institutions should include their Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in the review process to incorporate multiple perspectives and levels of expertise. Finally, to ensure animal welfare remains a top priority, institutions should require that animals be only transferred to sanctuaries or retirement facilities if locations are USDA-licensed and in good standing. Should animals be adopted into private homes or third-party organizations, FASEB strongly recommends conducting background checks via a thorough vetting process to verify that potential adopters can provide evidence of suitable housing, companionship, and knowledge of and means to provide appropriate veterinary care to the animal. This may be accomplished through partnering with local organizations that have established adoption vetting protocols and are knowledgeable in local animal adoption laws.

FASEB fully supports scientists’ ethical obligation to arrange for the placement of healthy and socially adjusted animals to suitable locations and urges institutions to seek advice from colleagues with well established resources and experience when drafting and implementing individual policies. Most importantly, we emphasize stakeholder responsibility to follow the AWA and USDA regulations, as well as all other pertinent federal, state, and local laws, throughout all stages of the adoption and retirement process.