I think the option of using a Humane Society is a good one. On the other hand,
a wise faculty member wishing to give the animals to students would make sure
that the students were well-versed in how to care for the animals -- he or she
could also make the students formally agree that if they can no longer care for
the animals that they will turn them over to a Humane Society or simlar
organization and not simply abandon them. Your IACUC is correct in being
sensitive to the issues, althought I think the university's liability (minimal
anyway) and concerns about ethical treatment would be met by the foregoing.
For me, these options are clearly preferable to "sacrificing" unwanted animals
or animals who have simply grown too large to be used in observation.

Steve

Mary Watson wrote:

> I would work through a Humane society organization to disperse the animals
> for adoption.
>
> Mary
>
> At 02:24 PM 10/11/2000 -0400, you wrote:
> >For any of you with IACUC experience, could you tell me if your
> >institution has ever released non-medical lab animals to students?
> >
> >One of our faculty would like to collect a representation of vertebrates
> >(frogs, salamanders, turtles, lizards, snakes, fish) for observation only
> >for a Principles of Biology course and proposes to give them to
> >graduate/undergraduate students when no longer needed or too large.  IACUC
> >reviewer concerns range from university liability to the ethical treatment
> >of the animals by the students.
> >
> >Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> >Catherine Anson
> >Grants Administrator
> >LSC 201
> >John Carroll University
> >20700 North Park Boulevard
> >University Heights, OH  44118
> >
> >TEL: 216-397-4520
> >FAX: 216-397-3009
> ><mailto:xxxxxx@jcu.edu>xxxxxx@jcu.edu
> >www.jcu.edu/graduate/research
> >
> >
> >
>
> Mary H. Watson
> Director, Grants and Contracts
> Room 215, Regional Center for Continuing Education
> Valdosta State University
> Valdosta, GA  31698
>
> 229-333-7837 (phone)
> 229-245-3853 (Fax)
>
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--
Stephen Erickson, Director
Office of Research Administration
Boston College
McGuinn Hall 600
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
On-Campus Fax  2-0747
Fax to My Computer  413-895-8328

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