Schaller, T. L. 2014. A committee approach to environmental enrichment. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 534 (Abstract #PS35).

The Department of Comparative Medicine has established an enrichment program committee to provide assessment of animal enrichment. To improve the quality of this committee the members have developed and implemented an effective strategy using good laboratory procedures and the use of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as ground building components. The continual improvement process of this committee is comprised of 5 lab animal technicians and one departmental supervisor. Committee members are drawn from a pool of volunteers. Each member provides a mechanism of quality to develop, review, implement, organize, and structure the consistency of the program with observation and individual research on the enrichment of specific species. In order to achieve new ideas and continual improvement, committee members rotate one at a time every 3 mo. Rotating committee members allow for continuity as well as new ideas. The organizational structure of this committee has allowed for necessary changes to be more easily and effectively initiated when changing or adding species-specific enrichment. The committee has successfully and quickly aided the PIs to remain in compliance with IACUC policies regarding enrichment. In addition we have assured that animals are provided with adequate, effective and consistent enrichment that not only benefit the animal but the safety, ease, and accuracy of administration. The efficacy of this program hinges on the ability to make immediate changes when necessary, maximize the ability to make long- and short-term goals as a committee and improve the availability of enrichment for the animals to thrive in the various environments. We will describe the program, the process of development, the maintenance and the best way to overall encompass improvement standards set forth by the committee members and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.