Adoption & animal donor codicil

It is possible to adopt a former laboratory animal. These are usually rodents, mainly rats and sometimes mice. Larger former laboratory animals such as dogs, cats and farm animals that are suitable for adoption are usually placed with staff or students.

There are a few conditions for adopting a former laboratory animal:

• The animal is suitable for adoption (healthy enough, not aggressive, sufficiently socialised, etc.).
• The animal's welfare is guaranteed.
• There is no danger to public health, animal health or the environment.

The laboratory animal experts at AWB Utrecht check whether these conditions are met and advise on the care and housing of the animal after adoption.

In doing so, we follow the advice on rehoming (in Dutch) from the National Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes and our own policy on surplus laboratory animals and rehoming laboratory animals (pdf), which is based on this advice.