Any department or person planning to videotape any portion of a
research project or teaching program using live animals. must contact the Animal
Care Facility in advance to make the necessary arrangements. The Animal Care and Use Committee shall
review all videotapes and shall approve or reject the use of the tape by the
producers.
The use
of animals in research is a sensitive issue with the general public. Some animal protectionist groups have
obtained slides, photographs and videotapes depicting animals being used in
research projects, and are using them in the media to support their claims of
inappropriate use and cruelty to animals.
The
pictures are usually shown out of context with little or no explanation of the
procedure. They fail to note that an
animal is anesthetized or is receiving appropriate veterinary care. The pictures are left to speak for
themselves.
This policy shall apply to the production of
videotapes, photographs (whether moving or still pictures) and audio-taping.
The
animal care staff will assist in providing an appropriate setting for the
videotaping, using the following guidelines:
The room
selected for use shall contain only that equipment necessary for the experiment.
The
camera operator shall use close-up shots whenever possible.
There
shall be no clutter in the background.
The
animal shall be completely covered with clean surgical towels for drapes,
except for the area to be videotaped.
If any
persons are to be included in a scene, they shall wear gowns and surgical
gloves.
·Inappropriate comments shall not be made during the
videotaping.
·If a surgical procedure is being shown, the skin
around the surgical field shall be cleaned of any blood, and clean towels or
drapes shall be put in place immediately before videotaping begins.
All
videotapes shall include the following statements:
·The animal being used is from a registered animal
facility.
·The animal is under general anesthesia for the
procedure.
·At the end of the procedure, the animal will be
humanely euthanized.