Rationale:

All transportation of animals, including intra-institutional transportation, should be planned to minimize transit time and the risk of public exposure to allergens and/or zoonotic agents, protect against environmental extremes, avoid overcrowding, provide food and water when indicated, and protect against physical trauma.

Policy:

A request to relocate animals must be approved by the ARC diagnostic laboratory staff and/or the ARC veterinary staff before animals may be transferred between animal rooms. 

The ARC will transport all animals unless:

• Principal Investigators (PIs) or their staff are moving animals to and from their animal rooms and their labs in the same building or connecting buildings, or 
• PIs have filled out the ARC online Transfer Form, received approval of the proposed transfer in advance, and they have requested to move their animals between animal rooms in the same facility or connecting facilities.

Because of public health, animal health, security and public relations concerns, laboratory animals must be transported only in their primary enclosure or cage or in approved transport boxes that are escape-proof and adequate in size.  All cages or other transport devices must have solid bottoms or be placed in a secondary container to contain animal waste. All devices must be appropriately sanitized between use.  Animals cannot be transported in passenger elevators.

Applicability:

This policy applies to all research animals (rodent and non-rodent) being transported.

Instructions for animal transport:

For transport between animal housing rooms in the same facility or between animal facilities:

• To request a relocation of animals, please fill out the ARC online Transfer Form.  This form can be found at: http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu:8080/arc/Transport_Request.cfm. (Please refer to your approved animal protocol.  A minor protocol modification may be required to change rooms.  For more assistance, please contact the IACUC office at 5-6423.)

• Animals must only be transported in their primary enclosure or cage or in approved transport boxes that are escape-proof and adequate in size.
• Sheep must be transported in a designated and Environmental Health and Safety and Worker Protection Program approved filtered transport cage.
• If an animal will transfer to a new animal protocol during relocation, fill out an Animal Reassignment Form.  This form can be found at http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu:8080/utsw/cda/dept217274/files/438492.html .

For animal transport out of doors or between North and South Campus:

• The ARC must provide all transport out of doors. 
• To request a transfer outside buildings or between North and South Campus, please fill out an ARC Transfer Form.  This form can be found at: http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu:8080/arc/Transport_Request.cfm.
• Do not transport animals on campus shuttles or in personal vehicles.
• All animals must be transported in their primary enclosure or cage or in approved transport boxes that are escape-proof and adequate in size.

For animal transport out of the NC Facility, the NG Vivarium, and the Y2 Barrier:

• Animal cages cannot be taken out of the NG Vivarium or the Y2 Barrier.
• Animals may be transported out of the NG Vivarium or the Y2 Barrier using ARC approved transport boxes.
• Animals leaving the NG facility, the NC facility, or the Y2 Barrier cannot be returned to that facility.

For transportation of sedated-recumbent or anesthetized non-rodents (sheep, goats, dogs and swine):

• Two people (at least one of whom is trained to provide supportive care to the animal) must be present with the animal at all times during transport.
• An endotracheal tube, ambulatory bag, and speculum must be available during transport.
• Animals must be continuously monitored at all times during transport using a pulse oximeter.
• Animals must be moved in an appropriate transport cage, cart or lift table and must be covered with a sheet.
• Sheep must be transported in a designated and Environmental Health and Safety and Worker Protection Program approved filtered transport cages.

For all transports:

• Change cages to clean cages immediately prior to transport.
• If transporting in an ARC approved disposable transport box, place the animals in the box and tape the lid down.
• If transporting in a rodent cage, cover the cages with a microisolator top prior to removing rodents from the animal room.
• Completely conceal all cages with a clean disposable paper cover or clean sheet provided by the ARC to prevent viewing of animals. 
• When transporting multiple cages, use a transport cart or carrier.
• Remove or invert water bottles during transport to prevent dampening of the bedding.
• Use only freight elevators to transport animals.  Please contact the IACUC office at 5-6420 for the location of freight elevators.
• Clean and disinfect immediately any contamination of public areas with animal materials
• Transport carcasses in cages covered with a drape to prevent viewing.

Exceptions:

Exceptions to this policy may be granted by the IACUC or an ARC Veterinarian.

Contact Information:

For any additional questions concerning this policy, please contact the IACUC Manager at 5-6420.