What Protections Apply to Mice in Laboratories?
House mice bred for research (virtually all mice used in research) are excluded from the definition of “animal” in the Animal Welfare Act, and are therefore excluded from protection under the primary federal law giving some protection to research animals. Mice receive some level of protection under federal guidelines applicable to research institutions that receive funding from the U.S. Public Health Service. These institutions must have Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees to see that these recommendations are followed. In other situations, however, it is routine for research to be conducted on mice with no federal oversight of their humane treatment. Attempts to secure greater oversight through litigation have been thwarted by opposition from the research community. A Better Life for Laboratory Mice? Provisions for mice used in laboratories is a currently a topic of intense debate in the scientific community. Researchers have argued for generations that the laboratory environ
