Animal Ethics Module
The ethics of using animals in research
[Most of this document is taken from: [Link]
In Canada and throughout the world, animals are studied in scientific work. Though the ethics and care
of animals in science is an important issue to many Canadians, people are often unclear as to what
animal-based science looks like in Canada.
In Canada, all animal research is governed and monitored by the Canadian Council on Animal Care
(CCAC; most other countries have similar institutions). Before researchers and educators can officially
begin any animal-based work, they must first submit a detailed description of their proposed work to
their institutional animal care committee for thorough review and approval. Each CCAC-certified
institution has at least one local animal care committee responsible for overseeing all aspects of animal
ethics and care at the institution and for working with those involved in animal-based science (including
animal care personnel, graduate students, institutional administration, post-doctoral fellows,
representatives from the local community, and researchers) to ensure the ethical treatment of the
animals. The proposal submitted to the animal care committee must explain the methods to be used in
the research, how many animals will be used, and how the research will contribute to the understanding
of fundamental biological principles or to the development of knowledge that can reasonably be
expected to benefit humans or animals. The proposal must also detail all the steps taken to ensure the
welfare of the animals.
Animal welfare and the potential for pain and distress to be experienced by animals used in science have
concerned the general public and thoughtful researchers for a long time. The term "animal welfare" is
widely used to refer to an animal's quality of life. Ethical concerns regarding animal welfare can be
grouped into three main types:
Basic health and functioning - animals should be well fed and housed, free from injury and disease,
and relatively free from the adverse consequences of stress.
Affective [emotional] states of animals - animals should be relatively free from negative states,
including pain, fear, discomfort and distress, and capable of experiencing normal pleasures and
comforts.
Ability to perform important types of natural behaviour - animals should be able to carry out normal
patterns of behaviour, including normal affiliation with other animals and those behaviours that
they are highly motivated to undertake, in an environment that is well suited to the species.
It was these considerations, together with increasing use of animals in fundamental and applied
research that motivated W.M.S. Russell and R.L. Burch to examine how decisions should be made about
such use of animals. In The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique, first published in 1959, Russell
and Burch proposed the concept of the Three Rs. The Three Rs stand for Replacement, Reduction, and
Refinement. Over the past 40 years the Three Rs have become widely accepted ethical principles, and
are now embedded in the conduct of animal-based science in Canada and throughout many countries in
the world.
Animal Ethics Module
Replacement refers to methods which avoid or replace the use of animals in an area where animals
would otherwise have been used. This includes both absolute replacements (i.e., replacing animals
with inanimate systems, such as computer programs) and relative replacements (i.e., replacing more
sentient animals, such as vertebrates, with animals that current interpretation of scientific evidence
indicate have a significantly lower potential for pain perception, such as some invertebrates).
Reduction refers to any strategy that will result in fewer animals being used to obtain sufficient data
to answer the research question, or in maximizing the information obtained per animal and thus
potentially limiting or avoiding the subsequent use of additional animals, without compromising
animal welfare.
Refinement refers to the modification of husbandry or experimental procedures to minimize pain
and distress, and to enhance the welfare of an animal used in science from the time it is born until
its death.
The CCAC requires researchers to implement the Three Rs when they are preparing to use animals for a
scientific purpose. Investigators must consider whether animals are required or whether suitable
replacement alternatives exist. When animals are used, the investigator must consider how best to
decrease the number of animals used to a minimum and/or how to maximize the amount of information
obtained per animal (Reduction), and must identify potential harms and ways to minimize these
(Refinement). Consideration of the Three Rs will start during the early stages of research planning,
together with development of the experimental protocol (rather than as a last minute addition).