Policy of Animal Transportation

OARS should be notified prior to any animal transport on campus. All transportation of animals should be planned to minimize transit time, address any occupational health risk, and protect the animals particularly in regards to physical trauma, temperature extremes and overcrowding. OARS can provide transportation of small animals on campus in a University vehicle. Please call the OARS office at least 2 working days in advance to schedule any transportation. For off campus or other animal transport issues, please contact an OARS veterinarian. If possible OARS will provide transportation. If this is not an option, OARS will provide consultation on appropriate alternative transportation. This policy does not apply to animals used for agricultural purposes.

The following guidelines are to be followed when transporting animals:

• Animal Welfare Regulations (AWR) shall be followed in transporting regulated animals.
• Temperature extremes are to be avoided when animals are transported and special precautions or postponement are required when temperatures are below 45 degrees F or above 85 degrees F.
• Cargo areas used to transport animals must be cleaned and decontaminated as necessary to prevent contamination of future deliveries.
• Transportation of animals is to be done in a direct and timely manner.
• Filter tops must be on rodent cages.
• Cages must not be stacked on top of each other if it interferes with ventilation.
• Rodents should not be transported at a cage density of more than two times the standard housing density.
• Dirty cages must be bagged in a plastic sealed bag.

Approved by the University of Connecticut IACUC on January 13, 2004.