Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(A) Every research
institution shall make, keep, and maintain systems of records or forms which
fully and correctly disclose the following information concerning each dog and
cat purchased or otherwise acquired, owned, held, or otherwise in its
possession, including any offspring born of such dog and cat while in its
possession or under its control:
(1) The name
and address of the person from whom such live dog or cat was purchased or
otherwise acquired.
(2) The date of
acquisition of each live dog or cat.
(3) A description of each live dog and cat
which shall include:
(a) the
species;
(b) the sex;
(c) date of birth, if known, or approximate
age;
(d) the color and any
distinctive markings; and
(e) the
breed or type.
(4) Any
identification number or mark assigned to each live dog and cat by such
research institution, as required in 105 CMR 910.030(B).
(B)
Identification of Dogs and
Cats.
(1) Except as otherwise
provided in 105 CMR 910.030, any dog or cat received by a licensed research
institution or bred by such institution, must be identified by an official tag
of the type described in the regulations implementing the Animal Welfare Act, 9
CFR Part 2, as most recently amended, and be affixed to the animal's neck by
means of a collar made of material which does not cause irritation or trauma.
Provided, however, that no official tag need be affixed to any puppy or kitten
less than 16 weeks of age that is identified by means of a plastic type collar
acceptable to the Commissioner and which has the information (which shall be
legibly placed thereon) as required for an official tag pursuant to the Animal
Welfare Act regulations, as most recently amended.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in 105 CMR
910.030, when a licensee purchases or otherwise acquires a dog or cat, such
licensee shall immediately affix to such animal's neck an official tag of the
type described in the regulations implementing the Animal Welfare Act, 9 CFR
Part 2, as most recently amended, by means of a collar made of material which
does not cause irritation or trauma. Except in the following circumstances such
animal must be so tagged at the time it is received by said institution:
(a) No official tag need be affixed if the
dog or cat is already identified by an official tag which has been applied by a
dealer.
(b) No official tag need be
affixed to any dog or cat that has been identified by means of a distinctive
and permanent tattoo marking approved by the Commissioner.
(c) No official tag need be affixed to any
puppy or kitten less than 16 weeks of age that has been identified by means of
a plastic collar acceptable to the Commissioner and which has the information
(which shall be legible placed thereon) as required for an official tag
pursuant to the Federal Animal Welfare Act regulations, as most recently
amended.
(3) When the
licensee has made a reasonable effort to affix an official tag to an adult cat
or dog, as set forth in
105 CMR 910.010(B)(1) and
(2), and has been unable to do so, or when
the cat or dog exhibits distress from the attachment of a collar and tag, the
collar and tag shall be attached to the door of the primary enclosure
containing the cat or dog and proper measures taken to maintain the identity of
the cat or dog without an affixed collar and official tag.
(4) Unweaned puppies or kittens need not be
individually identified as required by
105 CMR 910.010(B)(1) and
(2) while they are maintained as a litter
with their dam in the same primary enclosure provided she has been so
identified.
(5) All live dogs or
cats received by a research institution, shall be identified, at the time of
such receipt, by the official tag or tattoo, which was affixed to the animal
before the time it was acquired by the research institution as provided in
105 CMR
910.010(B)(1), or by a tag,
tattoo, or collar, applied to the live dog or cat by the research institution
and which individually identifies such dog or cat by description or
number.
(6) Any dog or cat with an
unknown history obtained by a research institution or offered to a research
institution, or any dog or cat not properly identified, must be reported within
24 hours to the Commissioner or his/her designee. The Commissioner or his/her
designee, shall within three working days of receipt of the notice determine
which animal humane agency shall take possession of the unidentified dog or
cat. If an unidentified dog or cat is received by a research institution on a
Friday or weekend the institution may report said animal to the Commissioner or
his/her designee on the following Monday.
(C) Each research institution shall maintain
at each facility and make available to the Commissioner or his/her designated
agents, at the time of an inspection or on request, a copy of its record of
practices and/or policies regarding the care, handling, and veterinary care and
treatment of dogs and cats, including records of practices and/or policies
regarding:
(1) the daily feeding, sanitation
and exercising of each dog and cat;
(2) the veterinary medical treatment given to
each dog and cat including, without limitation, medications, post-operative
care, and means of euthanasia;
(3)
the record of individual characteristics of each dog and cat required by 105
CMR 910.030(A);
(4) the record of
the acquisition and disposition of dogs and cats;
(5) a copy of the approval statement by the
animal care committee and/or the attending veterinarian, as provided in
105 CMR
910.200, regarding the conduct of research
projects which, due to specific scientific requirements, cannot meet the
standards and criteria of
105 CMR 910.000;
and
(6) any other information
pertinent to the enforcement of
105 CMR 910.000.
(D) All of the records maintained
by the institution pursuant to
105 CMR 910.000 shall be
kept for at least three years.
(E)
Each research institution shall annually submit to the Department a report
regarding its care and treatment of research dogs and cats on a form developed
by the Commissioner. The report shall be submitted to the Commissioner no later
than 30 days before expiration of the licensee's license.