Guidelines for the Humane Transportation of Research Animals

Arranging the transportation of animals at research facilities is often anordeal. There is a confusing patchwork of local, national, and internationalregulations, a perceived lack of high-quality shipping services, a dearth ofscience-based good practices, and a lack of biosafety standards. It's a challengeand an impediment to biomedical research. Guidelines for theHumane Transportation of Research Animals identifies the current problemsencountered in the transportation of research animals and offers recommendationsaimed at local and federal officials to rectify these problems. This book also includes a set of good practices based on the extensive bodyof literature on transportation of agricultural animals, universal concepts ofphysiology, and a scientific understanding of species-specific needs and differences. Good practices were developed by the committee to addressthermal environment, space requirements, food and water requirements,social interaction, monitoring of transportation, emergency procedures,personnel training, and biosecurity. Guidelines for the Humane Transportationof Research Animals is an essential guide for all researchers, animal caretechnicians, facilities managers, administrators, and animal care and usecommittees at research institutions.