Animal Care
The well-being of our animals is a top priority.
The round-the-clock care NPRC veterinarians, veterinary technicians and animal care and behavioral management personnel provide is grounded in a respect for all life and includes daily health checks, annual examinations, fresh fruits and vegetables, environmental enrichment, behavioral management and more.
Because our animals are crucial to discovering causes, preventions, treatments and cures, we have tailored programs to meet their species-typical needs as well as their psychological well-being. These programs include socialization, foraging and sensory opportunities, manipulable objects, climbing structures and positive reinforcement training to help facilitate animal care, veterinary procedures and research. We regularly review and update our behavioral management programs based internal assessments and findings published in peer-reviewed journals.
The NPRCs follow regulations and guidelines established by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other institutional animal care and use committees. In addition, the NPRCs are accredited by AAALAC Int., a private, nonprofit organization that promotes humane treatment of animals used in scientific research and whose accreditation is recognized as the gold standard for laboratory animal care.
The breakthrough discoveries the NPRCs are making and enabling would not be possible without the knowledge and conviction of our employees who are all dedicated to the highest quality animal care.