Pain and Distress in Research, Testing, and Teaching
SPCA advocates for continuous improvement in minimising pain and distress an animal experiences from their use in research, testing, and teaching.
SPCA supports ongoing support and education of researchers and staff to improve the prevention and management of pain and distress.
SPCA supports more detailed and species-specific monitoring of indicators for pain and distress, the use of earlier humane endpoints, the use of pain assessment tools such as grimace scales, and a more precautionary approach to mitigating pain and distress.
SPCA opposes research, testing, and teaching where pain and distress are not minimised.
Under the section 59H of the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018, a person may perform surgical procedures in the course of using animals in research, testing, and teaching in accordance of Part 6 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and the conditions of a project approval other than for the following procedures: hot branding of animals generally; cropping dogs’ ears; blistering, firing, soring and nicking of equids; and mulesing sheep.
