Good animal welfare is a requisite for good science and is necessary to research and discovery. We strictly adhere to the Animal Welfare Act and unequivocally support the mandate that all animals must be treated humanely, and that all animals must be cared for in accordance with the particular needs of the species. We affirm our commitment to the 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement, Replacement).
It is our mission to provide the animals in our care with an enriched environment.
This includes varying activities that promote species-appropriate behavior, facilitates behavioral choices, and enhances the individual well-being of our animals. Animals at Stanford are provided with toys, novel food items, exercise equipment, nesting materials, music and videos, and cohort and human interactions, depending on the species and their unique needs.
To ensure that the animal-welfare skills of our researchers are of the highest standard, we offer a wide range of training in:
- Basic animal handling and care
- Anesthesia, analgesia, and aseptic surgical techniques
- Ethics and safety
Finally, noncompliance or animal mishandling results in disciplinary action, including disbarment from conducting animal research and suspension of the research protocol approval.
