Guideline for the Identification of Singly Housed Animals
Details
This policy applies to all singly housed animals within the UIUC ACP-LAB (formerly DAR) animal facilities.
Purpose
To describe the procedures for classifying and labeling animals that are single housed. As outlined by Animal Housing Policy (https://animalcare.illinois.edu/policies/animal-housing), social housing should be the default method of housing for social species of animals unless otherwise justified or exempted by IACUC policy. All single-housed animals on campus must be identified with the reason they are housed singly.
Classification of Single-Housed Animals with Individual Cage Cards
Identify single-housed animals using a color-coded dot sticker, using one of the following exemption codes:
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Attrition: The animal is now single-housed due to a lack of suitable littermate, death, weaning, separation, or new arrivals shipped separately. Personnel may contact veterinary personnel if pairing or group housing animals is desired following attrition. |
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Fighting: Includes males and females that have been separated due to aggression or demonstrated and documented social incompatibility. |
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Protocol-Specific Reasons: Animals must be individually housed due to approved scientific and/or protocol-specific reasons. |
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Veterinary Treatment: Animals must be individually housed due to ongoing veterinary treatments. |
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Breeding: Animal must be individually housed either because it is a stud male that will fight with other males and is not currently being bred to a female or because it is a pregnant female removed from its home cages to prevent overcrowding resulting from multiple litters in a cage. |
Classification of Single-Housed Animals Without Cage-Cards
Justification for single housing should be appropriately designated through another visible method (ex: sign on the door of an animal room, sticker on the cage, binder log, etc).