A new publication in the Journal of Toxicological and Pharmacological Methods compares the effect of traditional and modern home pen design on the welfare of laboratory beagles. The study, by Dr Laura Scullion Hall and Professor Hannah Buchanan-Smith from the Behaviour and Evolution Research Group at the University of Stirling, performed in collaboration with AstraZeneca and…
In July 2017, we hosted our third workshop, entitled “Refining Dog Care: progress in the Refinement of dog use“, our largest workshop so far. A total of 24 attendees represented the University of Stirling, UK dog facilities and industry, NC3Rs, RSPCA Science Group, UFAW and the Home Office. The workshop began with Hannah Buchanan-Smith…
One of the goals of the Refining Dog Care project has been to develop and deliver CPD training to staff working in experimental facilities and dog breeding facilities. Lack of relevant resources and training opportunities has been consistently highlighted as a reason training programmes do not succeed in the laboratory environment. One of the…
The UK Home Office has today released its annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animal in Great Britain during 2015. Data collected on animal use changed from 2014 onwards, with European Union Directive 2010/63/EU setting out a common format for all member states. Key changes include reporting of the actual severity of procedures…
University of Stirling researchers aim to improve welfare of dogs with launch of new website Researchers from the University of Stirling, Scotland, have today released a website which aims to improve the welfare of laboratory-housed dogs. The website, Refining Dog Care, is designed for a global audience of both scientific professionals and members of the…
Outstanding published research has been awarded this year’s 3Rs Prize. The awards are run by the NC3Rs, a leading UK organisation dedicated to replacing, refining and reducing the use of animals in research, and are sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Joint winner of the prize was the work of Dr Laura Hall, University of…
We are delighted to have hosted a successful workshop in December 2015 which brought together important stakeholders in the welfare of laboratory-housed dogs to discuss new directions in research. Eighteen attendees represented 10 organisations, including academia, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations, the Home Office Animals in Science Unit and the National Centre for the 3Rs…
On Tuesday 8th December, we attended the All Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) meeting at the House of Commons on the subject of the use of dogs and cats in scientific research. Speakers at the meeting included representatives from Understanding Animal Research, RSPCA, IAT, Cruelty Free International and the Run Free Alliance.…
