13-5 Animals on Campus

• Effective date of this revision: April 4, 2018
• Contact for more information: Office of Research Compliance; Office of Risk Management, Environmental Health & Safety

BACKGROUND

Central Michigan University recognizes that animals may be used on campus for numerous reasons including teaching, research and outreach or as companion or service animals. In order to minimize the risks that may be associated with animal use, the University has developed this policy to address acceptable uses and administrative approvals required to bring animals onto campus.  

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this policy is to:

• Reduce the risk of transmission of disease between the animals CMU has on its premises, owned or leased, for research, teaching and outreach purposes and other animals; 
• Reduce the risk of injury or health problems to CMU personnel, students, and visitors caused by animals on campus;
• Reduce the risk of injury to pets and other animals brought on campus by CMU personnel, students, or visitors; and 
• Allow the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to maintain accurate inventories of CMU animals and to control their acquisition, including acceptable species, specimen sizes, and sources of animals. 

DEFINITIONS 

Animal: Any vertebrate or invertebrate* animal, including, but not limited to, any cat, dog, horse, bird, rabbit, rat or other rodent, snake or other reptile, frog or other amphibian, fish., and any scorpion, spider or other stinging or biting insect. 

CMU Building or Facility: Any building owned or leased by CMU. Housed: Kept restrained or unrestrained for a period of more than 8 hours

Outreach Purpose: activities such as those involving CMU owned animals that are used for demonstration purposes (e.g., in conjunction with local/regional schools or clinics, CMU & You Day, etc.). These examples are not meant to exhaust the possible ‘outreach’ activities. 

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC): CMU’s body charged with oversight and evaluation of “all activities conducted by and at an institution that have a direct impact on the well-being of animals, including animal and veterinary care, policies and procedures, personnel and program management and oversight, occupational health and safety, institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) functions, and animal facility design and management.” (PHS Policy). 

Service Animal: Any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. Service animals are usually dogs, but may be other animals. A service animal is sometimes called an assistance animal. See also the Service Animal Policy. 

*Note: IACUC oversight does not extend to invertebrate animals, however use of invertebrates in teaching research or outreach, such as insectaries, may require approval from The Office of Laboratory and Field Safety (OLFS) and/or The Institutional Biosafety Committee depending upon the type of research being conducted. Bringing invertebrate animals into CMU buildings for other purposes not related to teaching, research or outreach (demonstrations, companion animals) may require the approval of The Office of Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety and may also require additional approval by relevant housing/residence or facilities administrative units.  

POLICY 

It is the policy of Central Michigan University to prohibit animals on University property or in any building whether owned or leased by the University, except as noted below:  

• Animals approved in advance by CMU’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) may be brought into or housed in a CMU building or facility for teaching, research or outreach purposes. Note: CMU’s acquisition of any animal, by either purchase or donation, must also be approved in advance by CMU’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). 
• Preapproved animals used in law enforcement, service animals, and pets allowed under the policies of CMU’s Office of Residence Life, may be brought into or housed in a CMU building or facility for purposes unrelated to teaching, research or outreach.
• Animals approved in advance by the Director of the Office of Risk Management & Insurance for special events (e.g., dog show, etc.). Note: At CMU’s discretion, special events may also require advance approval from CMU’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Sponsors of special events should plan accordingly.  

The University does recognize that from time to time members of the area community may exercise their pets by walking such animals on city sidewalks within University grounds or on University walkways. Under this circumstance prior approval is not required, but animals must be leashed at all times. Moreover, no person shall, while on or in any lands, vehicle or other property owned or leased by CMU, permit any animal under her/his possession or control to: 

• Deposit any fecal matter without the person responsible for the pet removing the same;
• Attack, bite or threaten any person or other animal;
• Destroy, damage, or deface any property; or
• Make any repeated or continuing loud noise. 

No person shall, while on or in any lands or property owned or leased by CMU:

• Leave an animal unattended and attached to any building, vehicle or any other stationary or moving object;
• Seize, tease, molest, or injure any animal, including any trained service animal or animal used in law enforcement;
• Provide food for stray cats, dogs, or other animals. 
  

Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action and/or the immediate removal of the animal from campus. Where this policy is silent about a circumstance pertaining to animals, all relevant federal, state, and local laws apply. 

PROCEDURE 

For any teaching, research or outreach purposes, approval from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) must be obtained prior to: 

• Bringing an animal into a CMU building or facility;
• Housing an animal in a CMU building or facility; or
• Acquiring an animal for the University. 

Persons desiring approval from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) shall make their request in writing to the committee, care of the Office of Research Compliance , not later than one (1) month prior to the time one seeks to bring an animal into a CMU building or facility.  

For any teaching, research or outreach purposes involving the use of invertebrate animals, including biting or stinging insects, contact the Office of Laboratory and Field Safety to determine if approval from the Office of Laboratory and Field Safety and/or the Institutional Biosafety Committee may be required. 

For special events, coordinated by University Events and unrelated to teaching, research or outreach (e.g., dog show), approval from the Director of the Office of Risk Management, Environmental Health & Safety must be obtained prior to bringing an animal onto University property.  

Appeals of a denial shall be made to the Vice President for Research in the case of the IACUC, or to the Vice President for Finance & Administration in the case of the Office of Risk Management, Environmental Health & Safety. In the case of appeals of decisions made by the Office of Risk Management, Environmental Health & Safety the decision of the Senior Officer shall be final and no further appeal shall be entertained by any other University official.  

In compliance with Public Health Service Policy IV.C.8 and the Animal Welfare Act 9 CFR Section 2.31(d)(8), when appeals of IACUC decisions are made to the Vice President for Research, the Vice President may disapprove a request that the IACUC has approved but may not approve a request for which approval has been withheld by the IACUC. In cases of IACUC disapproval, the Vice President for Research may intervene on behalf of the requestor and request that the IACUC reconsider the matter but may not overrule the IACUC decision.  

Central Michigan University reserves the right to make exceptions to, modify or eliminate this policy and or its content. This document supersedes all previous policies, procedures or guidelines relative to this subject.