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A semi-structured questionnaire survey of laboratory animal rehoming practice across 41 UK animal research facilities

If a laboratory animal survives an experiment without lasting compromised welfare, its future must be negotiated. Rehoming may be a consideration. This paper reports on research findings that provide an indication of the uptake of animal rehoming by UK facilities...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Skidmore, T., Roe, E. 2020. A semi-structured questionnaire survey of laboratory animal rehoming practice across 41 UK animal research facilities. PLOS ONE 15(6): e0234922.

An Anglocentric history of anaesthetics and analgesics in the refinement of animal experiments

Previous histories of animal experimentation, e.g., Franco (2013) have focused on ethics, the law and the personalities involved, but not on the involvement of anaesthetics or analgesics. Given that these were major subjects of (UK) Parliamentary debates on vivisection in...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Analgesia, Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Clutton, R. E. 2020. An Anglocentric history of anaesthetics and analgesics in the refinement of animal experiments. Animals 10(10), 1933.

Behavioral diversity as a potential indicator of positive animal welfare

Modern day zoos and aquariums continuously assess the welfare of their animals and use evidence to make informed management decisions. Historically, many of the indicators of animal welfare used to assess the collection are negative indicators of welfare, such as...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Natural Behavior, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General, Amphibian, Nonhuman Primate, Reptile

Citation: Miller, L. J., Vicino, G. A., Sheftel, J. et al. 2020. Behavioral diversity as a potential indicator of positive animal welfare. Animals 10(7), 1211.

Behavioral methods for severity assessment

It has become mandatory for the application for allowance of animal experimentation to rate the severity of the experimental procedures. In order to minimize suffering related to animal experimentation it is therefore crucial to develop appropriate methods for the assessment...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Kahnau, P., Habedank, A., Diederich, K. et al. 2020. Behavioral methods for severity assessment. Animals 10(7), 1136.

Grimace scores: Tools to support the identification of pain in mammals used in research

The 3Rs, Replacement, Reduction and Refinement, is a framework to ensure the ethical and justified use of animals in research. The implementation of refinements is required to alleviate and minimise the pain and suffering of animals in research. Public acceptability...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Cohen, S., Beths, T. 2020. Grimace scores: Tools to support the identification of pain in mammals used in research. Animals 10(10), 1726.

Impact of euthanasia on compassion fatigue in personnel working in animal research

We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the association between euthanasia and compassion fatigue among employees working in animal research at a large academic medical center. In summary, animal research workers who euthanize animals reported significantly more burnout and traumatic...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Euthanasia, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Gades, N. M., Thompson, K. L., Mi, L. et al. 2020. Impact of euthanasia on compassion fatigue in personnel working in animal research. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 8(1) (January/February), 22-23.

Philosophy of a “good death” in small animals and consequences for euthanasia in animal law and veterinary practice

Moral stress is a major concern in veterinary practice. Often, it is associated with the challenges in end-of-life situations. Euthanasia, however, is also meant to bring relief to animal patients and their owners. The reasons for the moral strain euthanizing...

Year Published: 2020Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Persson, K., Selter, F., Neitzke, G. et al. 2020. Philosophy of a “good death” in small animals and consequences for euthanasia in animal law and veterinary practice. Animals 10(1), 124.

Husbandry and management interventions for the conservation and welfare of captive animals – a systematic evidence map

Zoos and aquariums are poised to play increasingly important roles in mitigating the global biodiversity crisis. However, the ultimate success of ex-situ conservation depends on animal welfare and effective husbandry and management practices. As such, an empirical understanding of ‘what...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Martin, T., Lemasson, A., Wayman, J. et al. 2025. Husbandry and management interventions for the conservation and welfare of captive animals – a systematic evidence map. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 13(3), 152–163.

IAT/LAVA Congress – Workshop on setting up and running a successful re-homing programme

In a recent survey of 41 UK research establishments, it was found that re-homing was undertaken by less than half of them and the number of re-homed animals was low.1 At the University of Strathclyde we have a wellestablished and...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Horan, L., Wilkinson, M. 2025. IAT/LAVA Congress – Workshop on setting up and running a successful re-homing programme. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 127–130.

3Rs champions team: Empowering animal technicians

To leverage the expertise of Animal Technicians (AT) and other Biological Services staff, the University of Dundee has established a 3Rs Champion team that aims to implement and promote the 3Rs within the university’s animal facilities. Achievements are described.

Year Published: 2025Topics: Human-Animal Interaction, Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Dennison, N., Booth, K., Traill, S. et al. 2025, August 3Rs champions team: Empowering animal technicians. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 131–134.