Animal Care Committee Lethbridge College is committed to providing humane treatment and care of animals in accordance with the standards and principles established by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC). These standards and principles apply to all uses of animals in teaching, testing and research.
Policy requires all animal users submit a protocol form to the Animal Care Committee for review and approval. This must be submitted and approved before:
- any animal use in teaching, testing or research begins
- the release of funds (in the case of funded research)
- any animals are acquired, held or used
Meeting dates & protocol submission deadlines
The Committee's next quarterly meeting is:
The deadline for the submission of NEW protocol applications to the ACC Coordinator is:
For new teaching protocols, a Pedagogical Merit Assessment Form must be included and for ALL new protocol applications, an Evidence of Skills and Training Form is required.
The deadline for the submission of protocol RENEWALS to the ACC Coordinator is:
Form links are located at the bottom of the page.
ACC responsibilities
The Animal Care Committee works to promote animal welfare and allay some of the public concerns for animal experimentation by ensuring:
- the adequate care of animals in all stages of life
- veterinary assistance in the case of sickness, injury or elective procedures
- regular site visits are undertaken
- each project is found to have scientific merit through independent peer review
- the establishment and implementation of procedures corresponding with current veterinary standards
The Animal Care Committee has the responsibility to guarantee that no animal protocols move forward without prior approval. This involves:
- providing all ACC members and animal users with access to CCAC guidelines
- assisting animal users in completing and submitting the appropriate protocol form
- approving and documenting all modifications to approved protocols before they are implemented
- annually reviewing all on-going protocols
- maintaining an appropriate appeal process
- documenting and attaching all ACC discussions and decisions to the protocol
ACC authority
The Animal Care Committee has the authority to:
- approve, decline or request modifications to animal use in teaching, testing or research
- stop any objectionable procedure
- immediately stop any use of animals that deviates from the approved use
- have an animal killed humanely if deemed necessary
Animal care training
All students, staff and faculty who have no previous experience in animal care are required to take mandatory training prior to conducting research or teaching. To access the training modules, please contact the Animal Care Coordinator.
ACC applications
Applications must be received in full to be presented to the committee for review. All new protocols for teaching must first be reviewed by the Pedagogical Merit Review Committee (PMRC) before they are presented to the ACC. If the PMRC does not recommend it, it will not be passed to the ACC for review. Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) will also review the Hazard Assessment Form included in the application prior to review by the ACC. Therefore, all new protocols are due a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the next ACC meeting.
Complete the appropriate application below and submit it to the ACC coordinator, Constance Sheriff.
- Evidence of Skills and Training Form: To be completed by each person listed on a new animal use protocol.
- Pedagogical Merit Assessment Form: To be completed for every new teaching protocol.
- Protocol Renewal Application: For previously approved protocols involving animals.
- Protocol Review Application: For the use of animals in research, teaching and testing.
Additional ACC forms
- Final Reporting: Year-end reporting for protocols involving animals.
- Incident Reporting: For recording unanticipated animal related incidents and mortality.
- OH & S Hazard, Accident or Incident Report: For staff and students to report and document unsafe conditions, and workplace health and safety concerns, including accidents.
- Protocol Amendment Request: To be completed if changes are required for an existing protocol.
Contact us
Please contact the ACC Coordinator, Constance Sheriff, with any questions or concerns about animal care applications.