Monitoring your animals
Monitoring obligations
Your approved application and final approval letter are important validating documents, as they provide proof that the animal welfare aspects of your project have been duly considered. However, an application is only a statement of intent, and it is important that researchers can provide evidence that what is documented is actually occurring. Rigorous monitoring records (see section below) identify exactly how animals have been observed for deviations from normal behavioural patterns, and enable AECs to verify that the welfare of animals has been monitored as agreed.
The failure to keep robust project records could put at risk the ability of individual University departments to conduct research involving animals. All such work is conducted under a Scientific Procedures Premises Licence (SPPL). The Bureau of Animal Welfare conducts periodic audits of licensed premises, and is empowered to check all the animals and related records, and to interview researchers about individual projects. Discrepancies in record keeping can jeopardise all the work being conducted under a licence, as the Bureau may suspend work which it deems unsatisfactory.
- Record Keeping in Approved Projects (pdf, 29kb) (UoM Guidelines)
Monitoring checklists
Monitoring checklists (or "sheets") are a mandatory element of any animal ethics application and should enable the identification of all animals, in terms of the procedures they have undergone, when these occurred, and the condition of the animal. A good checklist will:
- prevent unintentional reuse of animals;
- maintain sufficient rest periods;
- establish signs of discomfort, distress and deterioration in animals;
- enable the application of appropriate criteria for euthanasia; and
- inform any critical investigation into the causes of unexpected adverse incidents.
Monitoring sheets must be located in the Animal Facility. Those individuals named on the application as responsible for day to day monitoring of the animals will maintain these sheets. While template sheets are available below, these must be adapted to the specifics of individual projects. Too frequently AECs receive non-customised template sheets which are not fit for purpose. The Animal Welfare Officer can advise on any issue relating to monitoring arrangements.
- Sample Monitoring Checklist 1 (doc, 68kb) : Generic model
- Sample Monitoring Checklist 2 (doc, 79kb) : Generic model
- Animal Welfare Scoresheet for Rodents (doc, 109kb) : Reproduced with the kind permission of Dr John Schofield, Director, Animal Welfare, Otago University (September 2008)