Yukon University is committed to providing humane treatment and care of animals in accordance with the standards and principles established by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC). These standards and principles apply to all uses of animals in teaching, testing and research. There are important responsibilities:
- to ensure that good science is conducted
- to meet ethical responsibilities for ensuring that every animal is treated humanely and not subjected to unnecessary pain or distress, and;
- to work within the acceptable standards for experimental animal care and use
The CCAC program is based on scientific peer review, policy making, and responsibility at the institutional level, and they monitor compliance through their assessment program. Yukon University holds the CCAC Certificate of Good Animal Practice, indicating that it is in compliance with these national standards set by the CCAC. For projects funded by NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR, the University also complies with the conditions of the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions.
Policy
Policy requires all animal users submit a protocol form to the Animal Care Committee for review and approval. This must be submitted and approved before:
- any animal use in teaching, testing or research begins
- the release of funds (in the case of funded research)
- any animals are acquired, held or used
Resources
The CCAC has a number of resource documents available on their website. The following are examples of resources that support some of the activities at Yukon University.
- CCAC Guidelines on: the care and use of wildlife
- CCAC Guidelines on: the care and use of fish in research, teaching and testing
Animal care and use training
All personnel involved in animal-based research and teaching must be competent and adequately trained in the principles of animal ethics and care. All students, staff and faculty who have no previous experience in animal care are required to take mandatory training prior to conducting research or teaching.
The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) provides training events (national workshops and webinars) and training modules.
Access to the CCAC training modules available at https://ccac.ca/en/training/modules/.
- Core Stream (Ethics in animal experimentation; Occupational health and safety; Three Rs of humane animal experimentation)
- Animals Housed in Vivaria Stream
- Farm Animals Stream
- Wildlife Stream
- Fish Stream
- Webinars (includes "Safeguards and Service - Striking the Right Balance" and "Renewed Focus: Implementing the Three Rs")
The Institutional Animal User Training program is provided through Research Services. You should contact the Research Ethics Office for more information on training resources and determining requirements.
Applications must be received in full to be presented to the Animal Care Committee (ACC) for review. Complete the appropriate form below and submit it to the ACC coordinator, Valoree Walker.
- Animal Use Protocol (AUP) Application (docx): For the use of animals in research, teaching and testing.
- Evidence of Skills and Training Form: To be completed by each person listed on an animal use protocol.
- Request to Amend an Approved Animal Use Protocol
- Animal Use Protocol Renewal Application: For previously approved protocols involving animals
- ACC Final Reporting: Year-end reporting for protocols involving animals
- ACC Incident Reporting: for recording and reporting unanticipated animal related incidents and mortality to the ACC.
Pedagogical Merit Review
In compliance with the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) requirements, a pedagogical merit assessment must be completed for course work that involves animal-based activities. This is to determine whether a proposal for the use of animals in teaching is essential to achieving successful learning outcomes or whether replacement alternatives could be (partially or completely) used. This must be completed prior to the Animal Use Protocol (AUP) review by the YukonU Animal Care Committee.
- Pedagogical Merit Review Form- Instructors
- Pedagogical Merit Review Form - Reviewers
- Student Pedagogical Merit Feedback Form
CCAC Policy: Pedagogical Merit of live animal-based teaching and training
CCAC FAQs: Pedagogical Merit of Live Animal-Based Teaching and Training (July 2020)
ACC Responsibilities
The Animal Care Committee works to promote animal welfare and allay some of the public concerns for animal experimentation by ensuring:
- the adequate care of animals in all stages of life
- veterinary assistance in the case of sickness, injury or elective procedures
- regular site visits are undertaken
- each project is found to have scientific merit through independent peer review
- the establishment and implementation of procedures corresponding with current veterinary standards
The Animal Care Committee has the responsibility to guarantee that no animal protocols move forward without prior approval. This involves:
- providing all ACC members and animal users with access to CCAC guidelines
- assisting animal users in completing and submitting the appropriate protocol form
- approving and documenting all modifications to approved protocols before they are implemented
- annually reviewing all on-going protocols
- maintaining an appropriate appeal process
- documenting and attaching all ACC discussions and decisions to the protocol
- YukonUACC Terms of Reference
Membership Terms
The University Animal Care Committee includes representation from the following areas:
- two (2) Faculty or staff members and one alternate with experience in animal care and use
- one (1) veterinarian experienced in experimental animal care and use
- one (1) institutional member who normal activities, past and present, do not depend on or involve animal use for research, teaching or testing
- one (1) representative from Occupational Health and Safety
- one (1) student representative
- one (1) or two (2) community representatives, who have no affiliation with the University and who has not been involved in animal use for research, teaching or testing.
- University animal facility technician or manager
- ACC Coordinator (ex officio)
- others as deemed appropriate – these individuals may be asked to review protocols as the need arises.
ACC authority
The Animal Care Committee has the authority to:
- approve, decline or request modifications to animal use in teaching, testing or research
- stop any objectionable procedure
- immediately stop any use of animals that deviates from the approved use
- have an animal killed humanely if deemed necessary
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Post-Approval Monitoring Program
This describes the Yukon University Post-Approval Monitoring (PAM) program to monitor the work with animals in Animal Use Protocols (AUP) following Animal Care Committee (ACC) approval. This program includes facility site visits when procedures are being performed, evaluation of document and record keeping, a comparison of the actual activities being performed and those that are approved on the protocol, and the use of endpoint monitoring, Annual Renewals and Facility Assessments.
Committee Membership 2020-21
- Dr. Tara Stehelin, Chair
- Dr. Katie Aitken
- Dr. Scott Gilbert
- Jennifer Moorlag
- Maciej Stetkiewicz (Health and Safety)
- Julie Kerr (Community rep)
- Elise Brown-Dussault (Student rep)
- Dr. Jane Harms (Veterinarian)
- Dr. Valoree Walker (Animal Care Coordinator)
Yukon University
National
The Canadian Council on Animal Care is the National Peer Review agency responsible for setting and maintaining standards for the care and use of animals in research, teaching and testing throughout Canada. https://www.ccac.ca/
The Committee will meet at least 3 times per year. Animal Use Protocol submissions should be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to a scheduled meeting date. The following are scheduled meeting dates.
- December 17, 2020
- January 29, 2021
- March 12, 2021
- March 26, 2021
- April 23, 2021
For more information about meetings and deadlines for protocol submissions contact the ACC Coordinator.
You can direct questions or concerns about animal care and use requirements to the ACC Coordinator Valoree Walker, the ACC Chair Tara Stehelin or the YukonU ACC Veterinarian Dr. Jane Harms.