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Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (Last Updated: June 14,2023) |
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Title22 Agriculture. Domestic Animals |
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SubTitle22-332b-1_22-332b-11. Use of Living Dogs for Medical or Biological Teaching, Research or Study |
SubTitle22-332b-1_22-332b-11. Use of Living Dogs for Medical or Biological Teaching, Research or Study
| Sec. 22-332b-1. Definitions |
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For the purpose of sections 22-332b-1 to 22-332b-11, inclusive, the following definitions shall apply: "Hospital" means any institution for the medical care of human patients licensed under sections 19-31 to 19-42, inclusive, of the general statutes. "Educational institution" means a college or university licensed and accredited to confer academic degrees under the provisions of the general statutes, or a school, institute or academy of any kind giving instruction requiring use of dogs. "Laboratory" means any other facility utilizing living dogs for medical or biological research or study. "Medical or biological teaching" shall include instruction in any subject under circumstances involving surgical manipulation of living dogs, administration to dogs of drugs, anaesthetic or toxic substances, or the subjection of dogs to unusual physical, environmental, psychological or nutritional stress or stimulus. "Research or study" means subjection of living dogs to experimental procedures involving surgery, administration of drugs, anaesthetic or toxic substances, or the application of unusual physical, environmental, nutritional or psychological stress or stimulus. |
| Sec. 22-332b-2. Eligibility for license to procure and use dogs |
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No person shall be eligible to apply for a license to procure or use any living dog for medical or biological teaching, research or study except the owner or authorized and responsible agent of a hospital, educational institution or laboratory. |
| Sec. 22-332b-3. Exemptions |
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A person, firm or corporation engaged in the care, breeding, training or use of living dogs under the provisions of the general statutes pertaining to the practice of veterinary medicine or to the operation of a kennel or pet shop shall be exempt from the provisions of sections 22-332b-1 to 22-332b-11, inclusive, unless engaged in an activity which, in the judgment of the commissioner of health, falls within the meaning of research or study as defined above. |
| Sec. 22-332b-4. Application for license |
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Application for a license to procure or use living dogs for medical or biological teaching, research or study shall be made on forms procurable from the state department of health and shall be made by an authorized and responsible agent of the hospital, educational institution or laboratory proposing to engage in such activity. Each application shall contain the name of the facility and its address, a description of the land, buildings, equipment and facilities available, a description of the nature of the proposed uses of living dogs, the location of such activity and such other data as may be required by the commissioner of health. Such application shall further designate the person or persons who shall be responsible for compliance with the provisions of sections 22-332b-1 to 22-332b-11, inclusive, and shall set forth pertinent data concerning qualifications of such person or persons. |
| Sec. 22-332b-5. Fees |
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A fee of fifty dollars shall be paid at the time of application for a license or renewal thereof. Such fee shall not be returnable. |
| Sec. 22-332b-6. Issuance or denial of license |
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Issuance of a license shall be dependent upon presentation by the applicant of evidence acceptable to the commissioner of health that the proposed teaching, research or study program is designed to impart or elicit knowledge or understanding of the problems of human or animal health and that the use of living dogs in such program is essential. If, after investigation, it is found that this evidence is not sufficient or it is found that the applicant does not have facilities and personnel adequate for reasonable compliance with standards hereinafter set forth, the application will be denied and the applicant informed in writing of the reasons for such denial. |
| Sec. 22-332b-7. Revocation or suspension of license |
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When investigation or inspection discloses that a licensee has failed to maintain substantial compliance with standards set forth in sections 22-332b-1 to 22-332b-11, inclusive, or has wilfully and materially failed to comply with the provisions of any law or regulation relating to the acquisition, housing and care of dogs, his license may be suspended or revoked after written notice from the commissioner of health. Within ten days after receipt of a notice of intent to suspend or revoke a license, the licensee may request a hearing to show cause why the license should not be suspended or revoked. If no request for a hearing is made within the aforesaid ten days, suspension or revocation of the license, at the discretion of the commissioner of health, shall become effective upon issuance to the licensee of an order of suspension or revocation accompanied by the commissioner's findings and conclusions. In a similar manner, after a hearing, suspension or revocation of license shall be effective when in the judgment of the commissioner such action is necessary. No facility shall procure or use living dogs for medical or biological teaching, research or study while its license is suspended or after revocation thereof. Reinstatement of a suspended license may be requested after the correction of conditions leading to suspension, at which time reinstatement may be granted at the discretion of the commissioner when such evidence as he may require indicates that acceptable corrective measures have been made effective. |
| Sec. 22-332b-8. Renewal of license |
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(a) Each license shall be renewed annually on or before July first. Application for renewal shall be filed annually before such date and shall be accompanied by the renewal fee. (b) In addition, renewal of license shall be required at any time when the premises of the facility licensed are to be changed or when there is to be any additional use of living dogs not covered by a license then current. Licenses are not transferable with respect to either condition. |
| Sec. 22-332b-9. Standards for housing, care, treatment, handling and disposition of dogs |
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(a) The activity shall be under the direction of a person or persons with qualifications acceptable to the state department of health who shall be designated by the licensee as responsible for the operation of the facility licensed. Except for limited activities and with express approval of the commissioner of health, the following are the minimum acceptable qualifications; (1) Possession of an earned doctoral degree from a recognized college or university in veterinary medicine, medicine, dentistry or the biological sciences, or (2) essentially equivalent specialized education, training and experience. (b) The licensee may be required to employ other personnel with such qualifications as the commissioner of health deems reasonable and necessary for the activity licensed. (c) The premises in which dogs are quartered or used shall be adequate in size for the number of dogs housed or used therein. (d) The licensee shall at all times maintain the dogs in a manner providing a minimum of bodily discomfort compatible with the activity licensed. (e) When a licensee has acquired ownership of a dog or dogs for medical or biological research or study, he shall promptly cause such dog or dogs to be transported to the facility licensed under conditions compatible with humane and sanitary maintenance. (f) Dogs shall at all times be kindly and humanely treated and provided with adequate amounts of wholesome, nutritious food and of clean water from a source acceptable to the state department of health. Inhumane exposure of dogs to extremes of temperature and humidity shall be avoided at all times. (g) Quarters shall be of such size that each animal may stand, sit and lie in a normal position and turn around with ease. (h) The licensee shall provide reasonable facilities for the removal and disposal of excreta and such other facilities for maintenance of animal health, comfort and exercise as the commissioner of health may require. (i) Quarters shall be kept clean, well lighted and ventilated and be maintained at a proper temperature. After being vacated and before being reoccupied they shall be cleaned by procedures acceptable to the state department of health for the prevention of spread of communicable diseases. (j) Surgery or experimental procedures capable of inducing discomfort greater than that attending anaesthetization shall not be performed without proper administration of a suitable anaesthetic and the dog shall be maintained under such anaesthesia until the operation or experimental procedure is completed. Exceptions to this are permissible only when provisions for maximum comfort, including anaesthesia, would defeat the object of the experiment and then only by direction of a person qualified in the judgment of the commissioner of health to evaluate the need for and conditions of the procedure. (k) Surgery shall be performed under strict asepsis whenever the animal is expected to survive. No dog shall be used for two or more successive painful experiments unless it is a part of the original operation. (l) When a surgical or experimental procedure has been performed on a dog which will continue to cause discomfort or pain to the animal or might significantly shorten its normal life expectancy, the animal shall be destroyed painlessly by intravenous injection of a drug acceptable to the commissioner of health. This shall be done promptly upon conclusion of a reasonable postoperative or post experimental observation period during which the animal shall be given care to minimize discomfort equivalent to that which would be rendered to human beings under similar circumstances. (m) Bodies of dead animals shall be disposed of promptly by incineration or by other means approved by the commissioner of health. (n) Premises wherein dogs are quartered or used shall be open for inspection to an agent of the state department of health at all times. |
| Sec. 22-332b-10. Records and reports |
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Suitable records on all dogs procured or used shall be maintained and shall include: (1) A description or other identification of each animal; (2) the date and source from which the animal was procured; (3) the condition of the animal upon receipt; (4) the use to which the animal was put; (5) details of administration of anaesthesia; (6) the method of humane destruction of the animal or other disposition of it. Such records shall be available for inspection at all times to an agent of the state department of health. The licensee shall submit upon request reports on such matters and at such times as the commissioner of health may require. |
| Sec. 22-332b-11. Display of regulation |
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A copy of sections 22-332b-1 to 22-332b-11, inclusive, shall be displayed prominently on the premises of licensees wherein dogs are quartered or utilized for experimental purposes. |