Animal Care Services (ACS) assists researchers and educators in ensuring that the highest standards in humane care and treatment of all living animals involved in science are met. As the unit that supports the Animal Care Committee (ACC), ACS provides service, support and leadership in several areas:

  1. ACS ensures that our ethical responsibilities towards the animals are met through adherence to the University of Guelph Animal Care Policy and Procedures, the provincial legislation and regulations of the Animals for Research Act, and the national guidelines and policies of the Canadian Council on Animal Care. 
  2. ACS supports the institutional ethical review committee, the Animal Care Committee, which carries the formal responsibility of overseeing all animal use and care at the institution, and which has the authority to make decisions on all activities involving live animal use.
  3. ACS manages all Animal Utilization Protocols, formal applications to use animals in science, teaching and public events within the institution. ACS also manages facility inspections and accreditations, aspects of animal procurement, conditioning, husbandry, and veterinary care for the main campus, affiliated research stations, and regional campuses. 
  4. ACS provides an Animal User Training Program to ensure that all personnel interacting with animals are well trained and qualified. This educational program promotes a university wide culture and understanding of ethical conduct of research and teaching when live animals are involved.

Animal Care Services (ACS) aims to:

  • provide service and assistance in the Animal Utilization Protocol (AUP) application and the Animal Care Committee (ACC) approval process
  • enhance research through provision of training and support to researchers
  • provide high quality veterinary services to the research community
  • enhance the post-approval review and refinement processes

ACS leadership, services, and support are provided by nine staff members:

  • Veterinarian and Director
    • Dr. Anna Bolinder
  • Veterinarian and Associate Director
    • Dr. Lena Levison
  • Veterinarian (Post-approval) and Associate Director
    • Dr. Janet Sunohara-Neilson
  • Clinical Research Veterinarian
    • Dr. Sarah Baert
  • Program Manager, Animal Ethics and Compliance
    • Sascha Tuuha
  • Animal Ethics Coordinator
    • Dr. Deepa Menon, on leave; TFT Dr. Preethi Jayanth
  • Post-Approval Review (PAR) Coordinator
    • Martha Manning
  • Training Coordinator
    • Dr. Maka Natsvlishvili
  • Compliance and Facility Coordinator
    • Chantelle Kuhn, effective Oct. 2024; TFT Kristyn Fournier