Contract requirements issued for events involving the use of animals

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Contracted Events Involving the

Housing or Exhibition of Animals at

Michigan State University Facilities

Preamble

Michigan State University recognizes and embraces the fundamental interdependence of humans and animals and is committed to the core value of humane care and use of all animals.

Animal-related activities are an integral part of MSU’s teaching, research and outreach missions and help MSU advance the quality of life for people and animals. MSU is accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC), a highly regarded independent reviewer of animal care programs. MSU faculty and staff implement humane care and management practices for animals in compliance with USDA regulations promulgated under the Animal Welfare Act, the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching. MSU has established an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in accordance with USDA regulations, and MSU abides by the care and management practices approved by the IACUC.

Moreover, as a land-grant university, MSU regularly makes its facilities available to individuals and groups from outside the University community who wish to use these facilities for exhibitions, competitions, and other events involving animals, and MSU periodically contracts for programs in which animals perform. MSU takes great pride in the humane treatment received by animals in its care and expects the same commitment to animal welfare from others using MSU’s facilities.

Contract Requirements

For the reasons set forth in the Preamble, it is important that MSU establish baseline requirements to protect animals in events that take place under contract at MSU. When MSU enters into contracts with individuals or groups from outside the University community for events at which animals will be housed or exhibited at MSU, MSU will seek assurance that those who are responsible for the animals are in compliance with applicable federal regulations and that the animals will receive appropriate veterinary care while they are at MSU.

Therefore, individuals or groups from outside the University community that wish to contract with MSU for events at which USDA-regulated animals will be housed or exhibited must furnish MSU with evidence of a USDA license(s), documentation of routine veterinary care, the name of the accompanying staff veterinarian or the USDA-required program of veterinary care, copies of recent USDA enforcement actions, and, upon request, USDA Inspection Reports. If these materials reflect a pattern of serious regulatory violations which the proposed contractor or licensee has failed to address effectively, MSU may decline to grant access to its facilities for the housing or exhibition of the animals. Contracts for events at which other vertebrate animals will be housed or exhibited will provide that, while the animals are at MSU, a veterinarian must be present or veterinary care must be readily available through an on-call veterinarian licensed in Michigan or through MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Additional Expectations

MSU expects that those contracting to bring animals to MSU facilities will respect MSU’s values by providing for the safe and humane treatment of those animals at MSU and by responding promptly to problems involving the care of such animals at MSU which are brought to their attention by MSU officials or by State or federal authorities. The failure to meet MSU’s expectations in these regards will be taken into account when MSU considers future requests for access to MSU facilities.

To view the Animal Event Rider that is incorporated into Michigan State University facility use contracts, click here.

Contact:      JR Haywood, Interim Assistant Vice President for Regulatory Affairs
                  204 Olds Hall
                  Phone: 432-4500
                  Email:  ora@msu.edu