THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH

ANIMAL RESEARCH AND CARE

Frequently Asked Questions About Animal Research and Care at UCSF

8. Where does UCSF get research animals?

The USDA’s Animal Welfare Act (AWA) covers all warmblooded animals used in regulated activities. Reptiles, fish, amphibians, insects, and other invertebrates are coldblooded animals and not covered under the AWA. The Act does not provide authority to regulate animals used for food and fiber or for agricultural research; therefore only farm animals used for biomedical research are covered.

The AWA's definition of animal means any live or dead dog, cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or any other warmblooded animal, which is being used, or is intended for use for research, teaching, testing, experimentation, or exhibition purposes, or as a pet. This term excludes birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the genus Mus, bred for use in research; horses not used for research purposes; and other farm animals, such as but not limited to, livestock or poultry used or intended for use as food or fiber, or livestock or poultry used or intended for use for improving animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber. With respect to a dog, the term means all dogs, including those used for hunting, security, or breeding purposes.

Animals sold in retail facilities are also exempt from the regulations, except wild or exotic animals. For more information on what types of facilities are exempt from coverage, please see Program Aid 1117, “Licensing and Registration Under the Animal Welfare Act” -

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