SWAGÊÓƵ

The Office of Animal Resources is under the supervision of the Senior Vice President for Research and Biotechnology and is dedicated to the humane care of all animals used in teaching and research at facilities owned or operated by SWAGÊÓƵ. The current Director of this office may be contacted at 909-469-8459 or oar@westernu.edu.

The Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of all SWAGÊÓƵ animal housing facilities. Responsibilities of this position include, but may not be limited to:

• Oversight of staff members who provide the daily care, including weekends and holidays, of all animals housed at SWAGÊÓƵ facilities according to guidelines established by the University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
• Development of written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Maintaining environmental enrichment and sentinel programs.
• Implementing instructions of the Attending Veterinarian pertaining to injured or sick animals.
• Participating in IACUC semiannual facility inspections and program reviews.
• Working closely with investigators to insure that animal care issues are properly and promptly addressed.
• Ensuring that all applicable regulations, policies and procedures are complied with.
• Directing the maintenance, repair and modifications to animal facilities in coordination with the University’s
• Facilities department.
• Serving as a non-voting ex officio member of the IACUC.

In addition to their animal husbandry responsibilities, the animal care staff are the eyes and ears of the IACUC to whom they report, through the Director, issues pertaining to protocol noncompliance or matters that may adversely affect the overall well-being of animals or faculty, students or staff working with or around animals used in teaching or research at SWAGÊÓƵ.

In addition to successfully completing the required CITI training, the Director and staff of the Office of Animal Resources receive hands-on training by the Attending Veterinarian on the proper handling and care of animal species housed at the SWAGÊÓƵ. This training must be repeated at least every three years.

The Director and staff of the Office of Animal Resources realize that quality animal care is essential to obtaining quality scientific data and are, therefore, dedicated to providing the highest possible quality of care.

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