Reporting Animal Welfare Concerns and Complaints Active

By Ecosystems Mission Area March 13, 2020

Reporting Animal Welfare Concerns and Complaints at Ecosystems Mission Area, USGS:

Lesser Scaup — This adult male scaup stretches out his neck as researchers measure his culmen, the upper part of his bill. (Credit: Jennifer Wall, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and Chesapeake Bay Conservation Corps. Public domain.)

The Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) is committed to performing animal research in a humane and compliant manner. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) requires that research institutions have “…methods whereby deficiencies in animal care and treatment are reported, including deficiencies in animal care and treatment reported by any employee of the facility." No facility employee, Committee member, or laboratory personnel shall be discriminated against or be subject to any reprisal for reporting violations of any regulation or standards under the Act.

Animal welfare is taken seriously by EMA. Should EMA staff, any personnel participating in animal research, or members of the public:

have concerns regarding noncompliance with the policies, rules, regulations and laws regarding animal care and use for research, teaching and training in any EMA Science center;
witness or be involved in incidents that can impact the welfare of vertebrate animals during research activities by EMA;
have concerns about the conduct of personnel handling vertebrates during research activities in EMA; or
see animals that appear to be in pain/distress following use in research activities in EMA centers.

EMA encourages reporting animal welfare concerns.

Image: Sampling Prairie Dog Fur — Fur samples are taken from an anaesthetized prairie dog in Wind Cave National Park. (Credit: Marisa Lubeck, U.S. Geological Survey. Public domain.)

Federal law prohibits discrimination against or reprisal for whistleblowers. Reports may be made anonymously, or you may ask for confidentiality.

The following instructions and procedures are approved for reporting and following up on all animal care and use concerns:

Immediate animal welfare concerns should be reported to the local IACUC. Reporting an incident of suspected non-compliance or mistreatment of animals will initiate an investigation. Findings and recommendations are reported to the Institutional Official and subsequently to the Ecosystems Mission Area.
For non-urgent animal welfare concerns or if concerns have not been addressed, a report can be made to the EMA: Animalwelfare_complaints@usgs.gov.

All attempts will be made to protect complainant’s anonymity, but investigative process may require collection of personal information or additional incident details that might disclose/reveal the identity of the complainant or other involved. Federal law prohibits discrimination against or reprisal for whistleblowers.

Back to USGS Ecosystems Mission Area: Animal Welfare Assurance

Overview
Reporting Animal Welfare Concerns and Complaints at Ecosystems Mission Area, USGS:

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

This adult male scaup stretches out his neck as researchers measure his culmen, the upper part of his bill. (Credit: Jennifer Wall, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and Chesapeake Bay Conservation Corps. Public domain.)

The Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) is committed to performing animal research in a humane and compliant manner. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) requires that research institutions have “…methods whereby deficiencies in animal care and treatment are reported, including deficiencies in animal care and treatment reported by any employee of the facility." No facility employee, Committee member, or laboratory personnel shall be discriminated against or be subject to any reprisal for reporting violations of any regulation or standards under the Act.

Animal welfare is taken seriously by EMA. Should EMA staff, any personnel participating in animal research, or members of the public:

have concerns regarding noncompliance with the policies, rules, regulations and laws regarding animal care and use for research, teaching and training in any EMA Science center;

witness or be involved in incidents that can impact the welfare of vertebrate animals during research activities by EMA;

have concerns about the conduct of personnel handling vertebrates during research activities in EMA; or

see animals that appear to be in pain/distress following use in research activities in EMA centers.

EMA encourages reporting animal welfare concerns.

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Fur samples are taken from an anaesthetized prairie dog in Wind Cave National Park. (Credit: Marisa Lubeck, U.S. Geological Survey. Public domain.)

Federal law prohibits discrimination against or reprisal for whistleblowers. Reports may be made anonymously, or you may ask for confidentiality.

The following instructions and procedures are approved for reporting and following up on all animal care and use concerns:

Immediate animal welfare concerns should be reported to the local IACUC. Reporting an incident of suspected non-compliance or mistreatment of animals will initiate an investigation. Findings and recommendations are reported to the Institutional Official and subsequently to the Ecosystems Mission Area.

For non-urgent animal welfare concerns or if concerns have not been addressed, a report can be made to the EMA: Animalwelfare_complaints@usgs.gov.

All attempts will be made to protect complainant’s anonymity, but investigative process may require collection of personal information or additional incident details that might disclose/reveal the identity of the complainant or other involved. Federal law prohibits discrimination against or reprisal for whistleblowers.

Back to USGS Ecosystems Mission Area: Animal Welfare Assurance