Secure transportation containers, safe vehicles and competent animal attendants are also assured. All surgical facilities and procedures must be consistent with established veterinary practice. The surgical standards for dogs, cats and livestock are the same as those required in private veterinary hospitals. Every research facility must have an in-house animal care committee. One member of the committee must be a veterinarian.
Many committees now have a public representative who has no involvement with the research facility.
This committee's purpose is to assure the well-being of the research animals and the avoidance of unnecessary suffering. The members are present in the facility, monitor research activities and meet regularly to assure the minimum standards of animal husbandry, management, training of staff, disease control, housing and environmental conditions. The committee is responsible for the proper use of anaesthetics and analgesics in preventing unnecessary pain. Every researcher must submit a research proposal to the animal care committee before starting any research. All protocols must be filed with the animal care committee before the initiation of any research.