Animal Care Services
Responsibility for day-to-day operation and management of the University of Guelph Animal Care and Use Program lies with Animal Care Services (ACS) as the animal regulatory compliance unit within the Office of Research. The chief role of Animal Care Services is to provide administrative support to the Animal Care Committee (ACC) by facilitating the review process for all Animal Utilization Protocols (AUPs) and administering regular site visits and inspections.
About the Animal Care Services
Animal Care Services offers assistance to Principal Investigators/Instructors (PIs) and members of the ACC in the form of experience and knowledge in areas of regulation, policies and standards pertaining to experimental animal use. ACS acts as the liaison between PIs and the ACC, and ACS staff is available to assist PIs with AUP development and refinement. Expert guidance in the field of research animal medicine and welfare is also available to PIs and the ACC through ACS veterinarians.
In addition to administrative support, ACS is dedicated to providing training for all personnel involved with animal care and use at the University through an extensive Animal User Training Program.
Mission Statement
Animal Care Services strives to provide leadership and administrative support in the fields of animal-based research and teaching through diligent review efforts, collaboration with members of the research and teaching community, and education of personnel.
Objectives for Animal Care Services
- To provide superior animal care,
- To support investigators and instructors in their academic and research endeavors, and
- To teach and promote the ethical use and management of animals in research and teaching
What We Do
Animal Care Services (ACS) assists researchers and educators in ensuring that the highest standards in humane care and treatment of all living animals involved in science are met. As the unit that supports the Animal Care Committee (ACC), ACS provides service, support and leadership in several areas:
- ACS ensures that our ethical responsibilities towards the animals are met through adherence to the University of Guelph Animal Care Policy and Procedures, the provincial legislation and regulations of the Animals for Research Act, and the national guidelines and policies of the Canadian Council on Animal Care.
- ACS supports the institutional ethical review committee, the Animal Care Committee, which carries the formal responsibility of overseeing all animal use and care at the institution, and which has the authority to make decisions on all activities involving live animal use.
- ACS manages all Animal Utilization Protocols, formal applications to use animals in science, teaching and public events within the institution. ACS also manages facility inspections and accreditations, aspects of animal procurement, conditioning, husbandry, and veterinary care for the main campus, affiliated research stations, and regional campuses.
- ACS provides an Animal User Training Program to ensure that all personnel interacting with animals are well trained and qualified. This educational program promotes a university-wide culture and understanding of ethical conduct of research and teaching when live animals are involved.
Animal Care Services (ACS) aims to:
- Provide service and assistance in the Animal Utilization Protocol (AUP) application and the Animal Care Committee (ACC) approval process.
- Enhance research through provision of training and support to researchers.
- Provide high quality veterinary services to the research community.
- Enhance the post-approval review and refinement processes.
Contact Us
General Inquiries: acc@uoguelph.ca
ACS Veterinarians: acsvets@uoguelph.ca
ACS Training: training@uoguelph.ca
