Animal Welfare Information Center newsletter

22 Pages·1996·2.2 MB·English

by  Animal Welfare Information Center (U.S.)

Archive Document
Historic,
Do assume
not content reflects current
scientific l<nowledge, policies, or practices.
1

X
Animal
Welfare
Summer 1996
Information Center Vol. 7. No. 2
ISSN: 050-561
1
Newsletter
A
Congress Review of the Animal Welfare
Enforcement Report Data
Session
In
1973 Through 1995
by Cynthia Smith
• H.R. 1269 A bill to amend the Act by
ofJune 22, 1974, to authorize the
Secretary ofAgriculture to RichardL. Crawford, DVM
prescribe by regulation the repre- Animal Welfare Infonnation Center, NationalAgriculturalLibrary, Agricultural
sentation ofWoodsy Ov>\. Research Service, U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Beltsville, MD
Introduced on March 21, 1995,
by Carlos Moorhead (R-Calif.) and
referred to the Committee on the Introduction In this review, the following
Judiciary. tables contain data from thtAnimal
Section 1 ofthe act entitled "An The data for this review is Welfare Enforcement reports to Con-
act to prevent the unauthorized taken from the U.S. Depart- gress from 1973 through 1995:
manufacture and use ofthe character ment ofAgriculture's (USDA)Animal Table 1. Number of Licensees and
'Woodsy Owl,' and for other pur- Welfare Enforcement reports, hereafter Registrants: 1973-1995
poses" is amended by amending para- referred to as "annual reports," issued Table 2. Number ofRegulated
graph (1) to read: the term "Woodsy each year from 1973 through 1995. Animals Used in Research: 1973-
Owl" means the name and repre- The annual reports deal with the num- 1995
sentation ofa fanciful owl who fur- ber ofHcensed and registered Table 3. Number ofAnimals Used in
thers the slogan, "Give a Hoot, Don't facilities, animals used in pain and dis- Pain/Distress Reporting
Pollute," originated by the Forest Ser- tress reporting categories, and the Categories: 1973-1995
vice ofthe U.S. Department of number ofregulated animals reported
Agriculture. used in research for each ofthe years. Immediately following each table
This compilation ofthe report data are figures to graphically portray the
• H.R. 2854 A bill to modify the from 1973 to 1995 is not meant to be data from the tables:
operation ofcertain agricultural detailed or comprehensive or to estab-
programs. Figure 1. Licensed Dealers: 1973-1995
by PatInRtorboedrutcsed(Ro-nKaJnasnausar)ya5n,d19s9i6g,ned lcilsuhsiaonnys.deIftinisitoeffceornecdepstolseloyrtcoonp-resent FFiigguurree 23.. RExehsiebairtocrhs:Fa1ci9l7i3ti-e1s9:951973-1995
into lawby President Clinton on April the data to those interested in such in- Figure 4. Pain and Distress
formation, to point out areas ofreport-
4, 1996, as Public Law 104-127. This ing that have changed over the years or FigCuarteeg5.oriAensi:ma1l9s73U-s19e9d5in Research:
that maybe of questionable value, and
(cont'd p.12) 1973-1995
to provide some overall trends in enfor- Figure 6. Dogs and Cats Used in
cement ofthe Animal Welfare Act
Research: 1973-1995
(AW
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE... A) over a 23-year history. It is Figure 7. Nonhuman Primates Used
hoped that this information will stimu-
in Research: 1973-1995
Protection for Cats and Dogs 12 late some thought, discussion, and fur- Figure 8. Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, and
Policies for Service Animals PP-- 13 tahletrhoaungalhyssiosmoefstthoelednatdao.gsFohraveexabmepelne, Rabbits Used in Research: 1973-
Service Animal Information 14 1995
Humane Scientist - Rex Burch PP-- 17 bfeorunodfidnogrsesreeaprocrhtfeadciulisteieds,inthreesneuamr-ch Figure 9. Other Animals Used in
Announcements P- 18 each year certainly does not support Research: 1973-1995
Livestock Ethics Symposium 20
P- the claim that milhons ofstolen dogs Notes are provided for each table
are used in research. to indicate issues or events affecting
MD
National Agricultural Library, AWIC, Beltsville, 20705 Phone [phone] Fax [phone] E-mail [email protected]
Table 1. Number ofLicensees and Registrants, 1973-1995 be noted that this data does not
include birds, rats ofthe genus
Rattus, or mice ofthe genusMus
Year International Registered Licensed Licensed Registered Research Federal
Handlers Carriers Dealers Exhibitors Exhibitors Facilities Agencies bred for laboratory use, but it
does include wild rats and mice.
1973 4,287 286 604 865 The original Laboratory
Animal Welfare Act (PL 89-
1974 5,133 345 752 967
544), passed August 24, 1966,
1975 5,680 535 657 985 did not require annual reports
be made to USDA. The Animal
1976' 4,851 672 464 1,034 40
Welfare Act of 1970 (PL 91-579)
1977 4,638 848 396 1,024 134 (approved December 24, 1970)
required that research facilities
1978 16 50 4,507 924 313 1,057 188
report certain information to
1979 62 77 3,982 978 239 1,051 150 USDA, which submits an annual
report to Congress containing
1980 177 97 3,886 1,101 170 1,092 118
specific information not later
1981 197 115 3,664 1,168 130 1,169 131 than March of each year. The
firstAnimal Welfare Enforcement
1982' (339) 3,439 1,237 106 1,113 131
report to Congress was in 1973,
1983 (346) 3,490 1,266 101 1,166 88 and annual reports have con-
tinued since that time with
1984 228 130 3,365 1,294 83 1,184 141
several reporting changes along
1985 242 132 3,414 1,322 64 1,219 160 the way. Each ofthe annual
report tables will be discussed
1986 246 138 3,708 1,354 61 1,241 130
separately.
1987 250 140 3,811 1,353 58 1,260 160
Licensees and Registrants
1988 275 143 4,233 1,418 58 1,308 58^
AWA
1989 282 145 4,082 1,342 46 1,328 58^ The requires the
licensing of animal exhibitors,
1990 266 136 4,268 1,370 45 1,470 142
dealers, and animal auction
1991 301 141 4,400 1,444 51 1,474 145 operators. Registrants are all
carriers, intermediate handlers,
1992 282 136 4,324 1,618 54 1,527 137
exhibitors not subject to licens-
1993 280 129 4,154 1,773 55 1,331 147 ing, and non-Federal research
facilities. The number oflicen-
1994^ 246 109 4,238 1,861 35 1,511 250
sees and registrants for each
1995 275 98 4,080 1,937 31 1,300 223 year are shown in table 1.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 show the num-
The 1976amendments to theAnimalWelfare Act (PL94-279), approvedApril 22, 1976, pertained to ber of licensed dealers, ex-
the transportationofregulated animals incommerce andbroughtcarriers and intermediate handlers hibitors, and research faciUties
underregulation. Transportationstandards becameeffective September15, 1977, andcarriersand in- from 1973 to 1995 followed by a
termediate handlerswere firstincluded in the 1978 annual report.
The 1976 amendments also required Federal research facilities tocomplywith theAnimalWelfare brief analysis ofeach category.
Actand tosubmitannual reports to USDA Federal facilityreportsweresubmitted forthe periodApril Instances that may have affected
22, 1976, through December31, 1976. Many Federal facilitiesdid not reportormade only partial the reporting are indicated by
reports. Federal research facilitiesare notinspectedby USDA, butare required tocomplywith theAct, numbered notes for that year.
regulations, andstandards.
2. The 1982and 1983annual reports listedonlycombinedfigures forcarriersand intermediate handlers.
Separate figuresarenotavailable. Intermediate Handlers
In 1994, a much highernumberofresearch facilitiessubmittedannualreportsthaneverbefore. This
is probablydue tocontinuedeffortsbyREAC to improve reportingbyresearchfacilities. Intermediate handlers are
APHIS reorganized theanimalwelfare program effectiveOctober1, 1988. Animalwelfarewas moved
fromVeterinaryServices to RegulatoryEnforcementandAnimalCare. This transitionaffectedreport- people and businesses that hand-
ingprocedures and resulted ininaccurate reportingforFederalagencies for 1988 and 1989. le animals to and from the air-
port, during layovers, and be-
tween connecting flights. Hand-
reporting requirements. It should be facilities were omitted. This problem lers receive custody ofthe animals
noted that each year a variable number decreased significantly over the past 4
during transportation in commerce. In-
ofresearch faciUties did not submit or 5 years because ofa concerted effort
termediate handlers were brought
reports or submitted reports too late to by USDA's Animal and Plant Health under regulation by the 1976 amend-
be included in the annual report. The Inspection Service (APHIS), ments to the AWA. There were 16
data, therefore, does not include all Regulatory Enforcement and Animal
registered intermediate handlers in
regulated animals used in research be- Care (REAC) unit to improve report-
1978. This figure slowly increased to
cause these late, or nonreporting, ing by research facilities. It should also
301 in 1991 and has decreased since
AWICNewsletter, Summer 1996, Volume 7, No. 2
—
that time to 275 in 1995. Since 1981, figures have been more or less stable the wholesale pet trade began to or-
the number has fluctuated between 200 since 1988. ganize because ofconcerns with poor
and 300 intermediate handlers. These It is difficult to analyze the in- dealer operations and the industry's
fluctuations are most likely due to crease and decrease in the number of economic future in view ofbad
people going into and out ofbusiness dealers over the years as many factors publicity it was receiving. Concerned
for various reasons. may be involved. Based on my 27 years members ofthe pet trade succeeded in
in the Animal Welfare program, the fol- organizing and establishing standards
Carriers lowing factors probably played a sig- for a voluntary, self-regulation pro-
nificant role in the variations. The in- gram. This effort continues to grow
A
carrier is a person or enterprise crease from 1973 to 1975 was most like- and provide a higher quality animal to
engaged in the business oftransporting ly due to persons starting business and the pet market. This has very possibly
animals for hire. Carriers are mostly becoming hcensed with the idea of influenced the stability in the number
commercial airlines. Carriers were making money by selling animals with ofdealers since about 1988. Also,
brought under regulation by the 1976 as little expense as possible. The several States in the Midwest have
amendments to the AWA. In 1978, decrease from 1975 to 1985 was probab- passed legislation to oversee dealers
there were 50 registered carriers. This ly due to a combination of economics and have implemented regulatory
USDA
figure increased to 145 in 1989 and has and enforcement action against programs to improve animal care and
steadily decreased since then to 98 in the poorest dealers. Those dealers housing. These programs, in conjunc-
AWA
1995. This decrease is most likely due with minimal, or substandard, opera- tion with the and with coopera-
to changes within the industry, airline tions found they could not make suffi- tion between the States and APHIS,
mergers, or companies going out of cient money because of unhealthy have impacted dealer operations.
business. Most airlines have sites animals and additionally were subject Although the dealer category in-
(cargo and passenger terminals) at to legal action and possible penalties cludes people selling animals for pets,
many airports throughout the United from USDA. As the years went by, exhibition, research, and auction sales;
States. Not all ofthese sites are in- USDA increased the number oflegal wild and exotic animal dealers; and
spected by USDA. Inspections by actions and the severity ofthe penalties some transporters, most are involved in
USDA are usually restricted to the against the dealers who were not in the pet trade. The total number of
larger airports where animal shipments compliance. This continuous decline in class B dealers has usually averaged
may begin or terminate and at hub air- the number ofdealers for about 10 about 25 percent to 30 percent ofthe
ports where animals may change flights years appears to coincide with enforce- total number of dealers, with less than
or airlines. ment efforts and public concern. 100 random source B dealers providing
In 1985, the number of dealers animals for research purposes. The
Dealers started increasing again and has held rest ofthe B dealers are involved in the
fairly steady, in the low 4,000 range, pet trade, wild or exotic animal sales,
A dealer is any person who buys, since 1988. It was about this time that or transportation. Most A dealers (or
sells, negotiates the sale, or transports
regulated animals (live or dead), or
parts ofregulated animals for regu-
Licensed Dealers
lated purposes. Retail pet stores, as
AWA
defined in the regulations, and
people selUng domestic pet animals 1973-1995
directly to the pet owner are not in-
cluded in the definition ofa dealer. 6,000
A
There are two classes ofdealers: and
B. Class A dealers are breeders who
5,500
only sell the animals they breed and
raise. Class B dealers are those who
buy and resell animals, negotiate or ar-
range for the sale ofanimals, or deliver
for transportation or transport, animals
that are in commerce for compensation.
USDA
In 1973, the first year was
required to report to Congress, there
were 4,287 Ucensed dealers. This fig-
ure increased over the next 2 years to a
high of5,680 in 1975. The number of
—
dealers then dropped each year to
3,365 in 1984. Since then, the number 3,000 n \ I \ \ I \ r~l \ \ I \ \ I \ I \ 1 1 1 1
73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95
ofdealers has again risen to 4,400 in
Year
1991 with a slight decline in 1992 and
1993 to a total of4,080 in 1995. The
Figure 1
AWICNewsletter, Summer 1996, Volume 7, No.2 3
licensed exhibitor status. Most ofthe
growth, however, has been due to an
increase in animal exhibit facilities
and animal acts being presented to
the pubhc for entertainment and en-
joyment.
Registered exhibitors totaled 604
in 1973 and reached a high of752 in
1974. Since that time, registered ex-
hibitors have steadily decreased each
year with a total of31 in 1995. This is
due to the fact that many exhibitors
were improperly registered in the first
couple ofyears ofregulation when
they should have been licensed. Con-
tinued review ofregistered exhibitors
USDA
by has resulted in most of
them being converted to a licensed ex-
hibitor status with only a small num-
ber qualifying for registration.
The types ofanimals involved in
the regulation ofexhibitors range
from wild rodents and bats to
elephants and killer whales. The total
number ofexhibitors (both licensed
Figure 2
and registered) was 890 in 1973 and
1,968 in 1995, a Hltle over double the
breeders) are involved in the pet trade, each year since then with 1,937 ex- number ofexhibitors regulated in 1973.
witli a small number raising animals for hibitors being licensed in 1995. Some
research. Significant variations in the of this increase is due to the regulation Researcfi Facilities
number ofdealers would, therefore, of additional species of animals, such
mostly involve the pet trade. as the regulation ofmarine mammals in A research facility is any person,
1979 and farm animals in 1990. Some institution, organization, or school (ex-
Exhibitors ofthe increase is due to changing im- cept an elementary or secondary
properly registered exhibitors to a school) that uses or intends to use regu-
An exhibitor is anyone obtaining,
distributing, or transporting regulated
animals in commerce and exhibiting
them to the public for compensation. Research Facilities
Most exhibitors meet these require-
ments and are required to license with 1973-1995
USDA. Those who do not obtain, dis-
pose of, or transport animals in com- 1,600-|
merce and who receive no compensa-
tion are registered. Both Hcensed and
registered exhibitors must comply with
the same regulations and standards,
however. Exhibitors are involved in a
variety ofendeavors such as municipal
or county zoos, roadside and private
zoos, theme parks, marine mammal
parks, petting zoos, educational ex-
hibits, circuses and carnivals, animal
acts, and animals used in television and
movie work.
Exhibitors were brought under
regulation by the 1970 amendments to
800
the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act : : ' 1 ] i ] \ \ i i ] ] \ 1
73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95
and were included in the first report to Year
Congress in 1973. There were 286
Hcensed exhibitors in 1973. The num-
ber oflicensed exhibitors has increased Figure 3
4 AWICNewsletter, Summer 1996, Volume 7, No. 2
Table 2. Regulated Animals Used in Research, 1973-1995
Year All Animals Dogs Cats Primates Guinea Pigs Hamsters Rabbits Farm Animals OtherAnimals
1973 1,653,345' 195,157 66,195 42,298 408,970 454,986 447,570 38,169
1974 1,692,527 199,204 74,259 51,253 430,439 430,766 425,585 81,021
1975 1,625,660' 154,489 51,439 36,202 436,446 456,031 448,530- 42,523
1976 1,922,100' 210,330 70,468 50,115 486,310 503,590 527,551 73,736
1977' 1,519,669' 176,430 62,311 53,116 348,741 393,533 439,003 46,535
1978 1,687,201 197,010 65,929 57,009 419,341 414,394 475,162 58,356
1979 1,832,045 211,104 69,103 59,359 457,134 419,504 539,594 76,247
1980 1,661,904 188,783 68,482 56,024 422,390 405,826 471,297 49,102
1981 1,658,441' 188,649 58,090 57,515 432,632 397,522 473,922 50,111
1982 1,577,292' 161,396 49,923 46,388 459,246 337,790 453,506 69,043
1983 1,680,242 174,542 53,344 54,926 485,048 337,023 466,810 108,549
1984 2,074,133 201,936 56,910 55,338 561,184 437,123 529,101 232,541
1985 2,153,787 194,905 59,211 57,271 598,903 414,460 544,621 284,416
1986 1,778,403 176,141 54,125 48,540 462,699 370,655 521,773 144,470
1987 1,969,123 180,169 50,145 61,392 538,998 416,002 554,385 168,032
1988 1,635,288 140,471 42,271 51,641 431,457 331,945 459,254 178,249
1989 1,754,456 156,443 50,812 51,688 481,712 389,042 471,037 153,722
1990^ 1,578,099 109,992 33,700 47,177 352,627 311,068 399,264 66,702 257,569
1991 1,842,420 107,908 34,613 42,620 378,582 304,207 396,046 214,759 363,685
1992 2,134,182 124,161 38,592 55,105 375,063 369,585 431,432 210,936 529,308
1993^ 1,704,505 106,191 33,991 49,561 392,138 318,268 426,501 165,416 213,309
1994 1,624,649 101,090 32,610 55,113 360,184 298,934 393,751 180,667 202,300
1995 1,395,463 89,420 29,569 50,206 333,379 248,402 354,076 163,985 126,426
1. Animalswere reportedonlyfromJanuary 1, 1977, throughSeptember30, 1977, because ofa changeinreportingfromcalendaryearto fiscal
year.
2. Farm animalswere regulated inJune 1990, and requiredtobe reported.
3. Areviewofthe 1993 annual report indicates inaccuracies in the figures forfarmanimals and otheranimals because ofbirds andcold-blooded
speciessuch as fish, frogs, and lizards, beingincluded in the counts. The correct figure forfarmanimals for 1993 is 165,416 insteadof365,233.
Thecorrectfigure forotheranimals is 212,309 insteadof677,556. Thisalso changes the total forallanimals to 1,704,505 insteadof2,369,439.
4. Addition mistakeswere made in calculating the total numberof all animals used in research in theannual reports for 1973,1975, 1976, 1977,
1981, and 1982. The figures indicatedin the annual reportfor theseyears forallanimals usedinresearchareas follows:
1973 1,653,132
1975 1,378,030
1976 1, 779,837
1977 1,521,595
1981 1,658,439
1982 1,576,556
Thecorrectflgures forallanimals fortheseyearsareshownintable2.
lated animals in research, tests, experi- Research facilities are classified as ac- research facilities. The number ofre-
ments, or teaching, and that purchases tive or inactive facilities. An inactive search facilities increased almost yearly
or transports animals in commerce, or facility is one where no regulated to a high of 1,527 in 1992. The total
receives Federal funds for carrying out animals are kept or used. The total dropped to 1,331 in 1993, rose to 1,511
such research, tests, experiments, or number ofregistered research facilities in 1994, then dropped again slightly to
teaching. Research facilities that use in 1995 was 1,300 (both active and inac- 1,300 in 1995. This is almost a 75-per-
animals include hospitals, colleges and tive). There were an additional 223 cent increase over the number of
universities, diagnostic and toxicology Federal research facilities reporting. registered research facilities in 1973.
laboratories, pharmaceutical com- In the first annual report to Con- A research facility may have only one
panies, and biotechnology industries. gress in 1973, there were 865 registered animal site or may have more than a
AWICNewsletter, Summer 1996, Volume 7, No.2 5
Table 3. Animals Used in Pain Reporting Categories, 1973-1995 dozen animal sites. In 1995, the 1,300
registered research facilities had 2,688
Year No Pain With Pain/Distress With Pain/Distress animal sites. The almost 75-percent in-
crease in research facilities since 1973
& & &
presents an interesting statistic, especial-
No Drugs With Drugs Without Drugs lywhen research dollars are reportedly
becoming harder to obtain. From the in-
1973' (19,336) crease in the number ofresearch
19742 (1,774) 65,301 facilities, one would surmise that the
competition for research funding has sig-
1975 117,756 nificantly increased, the amount offund-
1976 129,263 ing for research has significantly in-
creased, research has changed to use
19773 114,911 less expensive methods, or a great deal
more private money is being used for re-
1978 150,191
search. From this data, it is not clear
19794 504,790 108,788 why the number ofresearch facilities has
increased so dramaticallybut the rapid
1980 481,716 122,650
developments in biotechnology,
1981 493,681 101,653 medicine, and pharmaceuticals are good
possibilities.
1982 465,518 130,363 When one looks at the number of
1983 515,608 139,411 research facilities compared to the total
number of animals used in research (ex-
1984 665,543 128,256 cluding birds, laboratory rats and mice,
and cold-blooded species) over the
1985 766,804 147,422
same period, the data is even more inter-
1986 608,308 113,161 esting. The total number of regulated
animals used in research is shown in
1987 692,247 130,373
table 2. In 1973, there were 1,653,132
1988^ 961,271 90,400 animals reported used in research, not
counting farm animals, birds, rats, or
1989^ 1,019,350 619,219 116,587 mice. In 1995, there were 1,395,644
1990 920,330 568,145 89,624 regulated animals reported used in re-
search, including farm animals but not
1991 1,131,139 602,415 108,866 including birds, rats, or mice. It is recog-
nized that the actual figures on animal
1992 1,241,373 772,601 120,208
use are not complete each year because
1993 1,281,969 926,990 160,480 oftoo-late reports, or because no
reports have been submitted. Because
1994 884,591 560,871 179,187
birds, rats, and mice are not included in
1995 754,712 517,377 123,374 the number of animals reported, the
numbers ofthese animals may have in-
1. The 1973 andearly L974 annual reportdid not request the numberofanimals used in creased while the number ofregulated
driessteraerscsh,fobruatnoinmlaylsr.eqTuheissteidstthheenfiursmtbyeerarofreepxopretrsiwmeernetsreiqnuviorlevdi.ngFurnormelliaetveed19p7a4intoor animals showed little change. There is
1978, only animals involvingunrelieved pain ordistresswere required tobe reported. also some variation in reporting from
The numberofexperiments reported in 1973 and 1974 areshown in parentheses, year to year for various reasons. Still,
with the numbers ofanimals reported shown eachyearthereafter. the overall trend over 23 years should be
2. In late 1974, a revised reportingformwas distributed to research facilities requesting
the numberofanimals exposed to unrelieved pain ratherthan the numberofexperi- fairlyvalid.
ments. Figures forboth the numberofanimals and the numberofexperiments are The figures vary up and down over
shown for 1974. the years but remain fairly consistent.
3. Reports on the numberofanimals usedsubjectto unrelieved pain (nodrugs)were Why has the number of research
reportedonly fromJanuary 1, 1977, through September30, 1977, because ofachange facilities shown an almost 75-percent in-
in reportingfromcalendaryearto fiscalyear.
4. The 1979 annual reportwas the firstreport to listboth the numberofanimals used crease while the total number of animals
involvingpain thatwas relievedbydrugs and the numberofanimals used involving used has remained fairly steady? There
unrelieved pain (no drugs). could be any number ofreasons. In
5. AwePlHfIarSerweaosrgmaonvizeeddftrheomanVietmearlinwealrfyaSreervpircoegsrtaomReefgfuelcatitvoeryOcEtnofboerrc1e,m1e9n8t8.anAdniAmnailmal their book Hie Principles ofHumane Ex-
Care. This transition affected reporting lines and procedures and could have affected perimental Technique (1959, reprinted in
the data in both reportingcategories. 1992 by the Universities Federation for
6. The reportingofanimals used involvingno pain and no drugs, inadditionto the two Animal Welfare, Herts, England),
previous categories,was required in the 1989 annual report.
W.M.S. Russell and R.L. Burch ad-
6 AWICNewsletter, Summer 1996, Volume 7, No. 2
vanced the concept of the 3Rs--reduc- obtained for these 2 years. The correct General
tion in animal number, refinement of figures could not be obtained for these
technique to minimize pain and dis- years. The next 4 years show reporting The first annual report in 1973
tress, and replacement ofanimal Federal research facility numbers and most ofthe year of 1974 required
models with nonanimal models. In cur- about equivalent to the numbers in only the reporting ofthe number of"ex-
rent research, the 3R's may be working
preceding years, and a significant in- periments" involving animals with un-
better than many people realize. It is
crease occurred in reporting Federal re- relieved pain or distress. In the latter
also possible that economics may have
search facilities in 1994 and 1995. The part of 1974, research facihties were re-
played a role in this as well as scientific
and technological improvements within increased scrutiny ofresearch by Con- quired to report the number of animals
the industry. I will not attempt to offer gress, animal rights groups, and the used involving unrelieved pain or dis-
an answer here, but only to pose the public, plus efforts by USDA, APHIS tress rather than the number of experi-
question. Perhaps some industrious to improve facihty reporting, are ments. The data for these 2 years,
person will look into this question more probably responsible in part for this in- therefore, is questionable when used
thoroughly. crease in reporting Federal research with the rest ofthe data in table 3. The
facilities. first year with valid usable data is 1975.
Federal Agencies
Also, in 1988, APHIS reorganized the
AWA Pain/Distress Reporting animal welfare program by removing it
The amendments of 1976
Categories from VeterinaryServices (VS) and
required Federal research facilities to
submit an annual report to USDA. placing it in Regulatory Enforcement
The report to Congress for 1976 indi- The number of animals used in and Animal Care (REAC). In looking
rceaptoerdt4i0ngFfeodrertahle preerseiaordcfhrfoamcilAiptriiesl 22, peaaicnhayneadrdiisstsrheosswnreipnorttabilneg3c.atFeiggourriees4 tafthiagttuhretehsfeioygfudtrihefsefefprorsreov1mi9oe8u8ws,hayitetaisrfsarpoapmnadrthetenhte
1976, through December 31, 1976. The shows the data from 1973 through 1995 years following 1988. The figures may
1977 report showed 134 Federal re- followed by a brief analysis ofeach
search facihties reporting. The figures category. Instances that may have af- be questionable because of the disrup-
tion and change in reporting, inspec-
varybetween about 130 and 160 report- fected the reporting are indicated by
ing Federal research facilities over the numbered notes for that year immedi- tciaouns,eaonfdtrheecAorPdHkIeSeprienogrgparnoiczeadtuiorne.s be-
next 17 years. In 1994, there were 250 ately after the table.
The 1988 figures should, therefore, be
Federal research facilities reporting,
viewed with caution. It should also be
with a drop to 223 in 1995. This
remembered that these figures do not
general increase in the number of
Federal research facilities report-
ing could be due to several factors:
A
(1) concerted effort on behalf of Pain and Distress Categories
USDA
to improve reporting by re-
search facihties, (2) congressional 973 995
1 - 1
investigation ofresearch in the
Department of Defense (DoD) in 1,400,000
Legend
the early 1990's, and (3) meetings
With Pain/DistressWithoutDrugs
ofthe Interagency Research 1.200,000
With Pain/DistressWith Drugs
Animal Committee (IRAC).
No Pain/Distress No Drugs
These may all have assisted in im- V) 1,000.000 A
proving the reporting by Federal (E0
agencies. The 2 years, 1988 and <c 800,000
1989, show 58 reporting Federal re- \
V \ \
search facilities. These figures are 600,000
not correct. The animal welfare E
program was removed from
400,000
USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Ser-
vices (VS), on September 30, 1988, 200.000
and estabhshed as USDA, APHIS,
Regulatory Enforcement and T
Animal Care (REAC) on October 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95
1, 1988. Because ofthe reorganiza- Years
tion, change ofresponsibility, new
offices and personnel, and new Figure 4
reporting Unes, incorrect data was
AWICNewsletter, Summer 1996, Volume 7, No.2 7
include birds, rats, or mice, and only From 1986 to 1991, there was a general potentially painful or distressful proce-
include farm animals starting in June of reduction in the number ofanimals sub- dures in which the pain or distress was
1990. jected to unreheved pain or distress relieved by drugs. The figures hold fair-
and then increases in 1992, 1993, and ly steady over the years except for
With Pain/Distress and 1994 to a high of 179,187, with a spikes in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1992, and
Without Drugs decrease in 1995. The increase in the 1993. I can offer no reason for the
number of reported animals used in ex- higher numbers in these years other
The data reported in 1973 and periments involving unrelieved pain or than changes in the type ofresearch
part of 1974 was for the number ofex- distress in 1993 and 1994 maybe due to that was carried out during these
periments involving unrelieved pain or better and more standard reporting periods or misreporting. Again, more
distress to the animals rather than the procedures and an increase in the num- information is necessary to properly ex-
number ofanimals used. In late 1974, ber of research facilities reporting on plain these figures.
research facilities were required to time. There may be other reasons also,
report the number of animals subjected such as a change in the type ofresearch No Pain/Distress and No
to unrelieved pain or distress rather being conducted, which is not apparent Drugs
than the number of experiments. The from the data collected. Additional in-
figures in parentheses in 1973 and 1974 formation is necessary for further In 1989, the Department began
indicate the number of experiments analysis. It is interesting to note that collecting data on the number of
there were not corresponding
while the other figures indicate the animals used in research projects in-
number ofanimals. The first entire decreases in the number ofanimals sub- volving no pain or distress and no pain-
year for reporting animals subject to jected to pain or distress that was al- relieving drugs. These figures have
leviated by drugs.
unrelieved pain or distress was 1975. held fairly steady, at about the 1-mil-
The 1975 annual report indicates With Pain/Distress and With lion range, over the past 7 years, with
117,756 animals with unrelieved pain the lowest number of754,712 reported
Drugs
were used in research that year. The in 1995. There is insufficient data here
following years show an up-and-down to draw any conclusions other than that
pattern with a low of89,624 reported in In 1979, the annual report con- the numbers are fairly comparable
1990, a high of 179,187 reported in 1994 tained data on the number of animals each year.
and a drop to 123,374 in 1995. The used in potentially painful or distressful
figures show a varied pattern over the procedures in which the pain or dis- Animals Used in
years and, except for a peak of 150,191 tress was relieved by drugs as well as Research
in 1978, a general increase in the num- the number of animals subjected to un-
ber ofanimals subjected to unrelieved relieved pain or distress. The data for
pain or distress from 1975 to 1985. 1979 shows 504,790 animals used in The number ofregulated animals
reported used in research is shown in
table 2. Figures 5 through 9 show the
breakdown by type ofanimal. Instan-
Animals Used in Research ces that may have affected the report-
ing are indicated by numbered notes
1973- 1995 for that year immediately following the
table.
2,500,000
General
2,000,000 The number of animals used in re-
search has been a controversial topic
fO for many years. There is little reliable
E
c= 1,500,000 data on the number ofanimals used in
<
research other thanAnimal Welfare En-
forcement, USDA's annual report to
^ Congress. The annual report figures
1,000,000
E are not accurate and complete in the
number of animals used in research for
the following reasons:
500,000
1. The Animal Welfare Act regulates
onlywarm-blooded animals, and
n
1 i ! I ' i I 1 I i I \ I ; i I I 1 I there are some exceptions.
73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 S5 86 87 88 89 90 01 92 93 94 95
Year 2. Rats ofthe genus Rattus, mice of
the genusMus, and birds are not
Figure 5 presently regulated or required to
be reported.
8 AWICNewsletter, Summer 1996, Volume 7, No. 2