Euthanasia

Unless approved by the IACUC, euthanasia may only be performed using methods listed as acceptable by the 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. Citeria used for acceptable, conditionally acceptable and unacceptable methods are as follows:

• Acceptable - those methods that consistently produce a humane death when used as the sole means of euthanasia.
• Conditionally acceptable - Those methods that by the nature of the technique or because of greater potential for operator error or safety hazards might not consistently produce humane death or the methods are not well documented in the scientific literature.
• Unacceptable - those methods deemed inhumane under any conditions or that pose a substantial risk to the human applying the technique.
• Adjunctive methods of euthanasia - Methods that cannot be used as the sole means of euthanasia but may be used in conjunction with other acceptable methods to insure death.

A written request for euthanasia must be provided to the Coordinator if ARP personnel are to euthanize animals. The written request must clearly specify the animals (using cage card or other identification information) to be euthanized and the date euthanasia should be performed. The cage should be clearly marked.

Carcasses should be placed in an opaque plastic bag (available in each facility), labeled, and put in the appropriate animal facility refrigerator or freezer. These animals will be picked up for incineration. Do not place dead animals or animal tissues in a waste receptacle or dumpster.