COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
POLICY AND PROCEDURE MEMORANDUM #6
April 1981 – Revised March 1989, June 1991, and June 1994, February 2008
SUBJECT: DISPOSITION OF ANIMALS
Animals are acquired by the College of Veterinary Medicine for use in its teaching, research, and service programs. Occasionally animals will no longer be needed in a program activity to which they are assigned. In such instances the following options exist for disposition of those animals. Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) is responsible for coordinating the disposition of CVM research and teaching animals. Investigators should include disposition of their animals in their IACUC protocol and should not assume a method of disposal of animals without checking with LAR. Options include either:
- Transfer to another CVM or NCSU research, teaching or service program, or transfer to another governmental agency. Such transfers will be made only if the additional use is not judged by the LAR Director as excessive or does not compromise the animal’s quality of life. OR
- Sale (adoption) of the animal. Animals shall be sold or adopted only if such sale or adoption represents no threat to public or animal health or welfare, or the integrity of the College. According to NCSU policy, such sales should be on the open market through regularly established channels. Negotiated sales may be made if there is an offer to purchase an animal, but are allowable only if the price is at or above market value. Market value will be determined by the Director of LAR, or, in the case of VTH animals, the Associate Dean for Clinical Services. Published prices, prices at recent sales, and judgment of the animal’s worth will be considered in setting price. Outside appraisers may be consulted. Sales are prohibited to the person establishing the price, his or her relatives, or businesses in which he or she has a vested interest.
In order to promote responsible pet ownership, dogs and cats must be spayed or neutered. The buyer is responsible for arranging such with the VTH or other veterinary practice.
Appropriate records including the name of the purchaser, date of purchase, and price must be kept. A receipt must be issued for each purchase. Receipts must be listed in a daily log. The original copy of the receipt should be provided to the customer with a copy to be kept on file with the daily log.
A copy of the receipt should accompany the money when it is sent to the Accounting Office. The revenue will be deposited to the proper account. The money for the sales of animals should be sent to the Accounting Office the same day the sale occurs.
At the end of each month, send the surplus property log is sent to the Business Office. From the information on these logs, a monthly report will be prepared that is sent to the University Purchasing Office.
- Animals for which no feasible market channel exists may be donated to a bona fide charitable or rescue organization.
- Under certain instances an animal may be placed with an individual who permits periodic use of the animal for monitoring of the animal’s condition. There must be a bona fide research requirement for continued monitoring or periodic use of the animal. Under these conditions, ownership may be transferred to the individual who permits such monitoring or use. Such transfers must be accompanied by a memorandum of agreement signed by the faculty member, the Department Head, the Director of LAR, and the new owner stating the conditions of the transfer, and releasing the College from any responsibility for impaired health and well-being that may have occurred while the animal was owned by the CVM.
- Euthanasia done in a manner consistent with the recommendation of the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia.
No animal or parts of any animal owned by the College which dies or is euthanized may be removed or used for private purposes, except as approved by LAR. VTH clients may claim bodies or parts of animals owned by them provided the VTH Hospital Administrator determines that such release represents no threat to public or animal health or welfare or the integrity of the College.
No animal belonging to the CVM may be transferred to the custody of any person except as stated above.
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Approved
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Date