Animal Resources
OFFICE OF ANIMAL RESOURCES
The Office of Animal Resources is dedicated to promoting the humane and ethical care of animals used in research and education at our institution. This office oversees the well-being of research animals by ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. It provides essential support for researchers by facilitating training, offering resources for proper animal care, and ensuring that facilities meet the highest standards of animal husbandry. The Office of Animal Resources also plays a key role in coordinating the review process for animal use protocols, working closely with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to ensure that all research involving animals adheres to ethical guidelines and prioritizes animal welfare. Through its commitment to excellence in animal care, the office supports the institution’s research mission while fostering a culture of responsibility and integrity.
The Office of Animal Resources is under the supervision of the Senior Vice President for Research and Biotechnology and is dedicated to the humane care of all animals used in teaching and research at facilities owned or operated by WesternU. The current Director of this office may be contacted at 909-469-8459 or oar@westernu.edu.
The Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of all WesternU animal housing facilities. Responsibilities of this position include, but may not be limited to:
- Oversight of staff members who provide the daily care, including weekends and holidays, of all animals housed at WesternU facilities according to guidelines established by the University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
- Development of written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Maintaining environmental enrichment and sentinel programs.
- Implementing instructions of the Attending Veterinarian pertaining to injured or sick animals.
- Participating in IACUC semiannual facility inspections and program reviews.
- Working closely with investigators to insure that animal care issues are properly and promptly addressed.
- Ensuring that all applicable regulations, policies and procedures are complied with.
- Directing the maintenance, repair and modifications to animal facilities in coordination with the University’s
- Facilities department.
- Serving as a non-voting ex officio member of the IACUC.
In addition to their animal husbandry responsibilities, the animal care staff are the eyes and ears of the IACUC to whom they report, through the Director, issues pertaining to protocol noncompliance or matters that may adversely affect the overall well-being of animals or faculty, students or staff working with or around animals used in teaching or research at WesternU.
In addition to successfully completing the required CITI training, the Director and staff of the Office of Animal Resources receive hands-on training by the Attending Veterinarian on the proper handling and care of animal species housed at the WesternU. This training must be repeated at least every three years.
The Director and staff of the Office of Animal Resources realize that quality animal care is essential to obtaining quality scientific data and are, therefore, dedicated to providing the highest possible quality of care.
Links
- USDA
- United States Public Health Service
- Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International
- American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
- Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
- Animal Welfare Information Center
- AltWeb
- IACUC.org
- American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine
- Laboratory Animal Training Association
- Merck Veterinary Manual
- Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research
Office of Animal Resources Staff
Marissa Saenz
Rafael Perez
Office of Animal Resources
Director of Office of Animal Resources
Ariana Cast
Christian Montenegro
Nathan Barlow
Jasabel Martinez
Katherine Moralez
Kevin Pelligrini
Contact the Office of animal resources
Office Hours
8:00AM – 5:00PM, Monday-Friday
Mailing Address
Western University of Health Sciences
Office of Animal Resources
309 East Second Street
Pomona, CA 91766-1854