Back in 1966, the Animal Welfare Act, which was originally named the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act, was enacted in the U.S. This was federal government’s response to the growing issue of the rampant use of animals for research and testing.
There was also a substantial public outcry over the reported increasing thefts of pet dogs and cats that were ultimately sold to research facilities.
The law initially did not address how the animals are supposed to be used for research purposes, but it focused more on setting standards as to how the animals are to be obtained and humanely cared for in the facilities.
The law also covered just a few kinds of animals, namely, dogs, cats, monkeys, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits.
Throughout the decades, however, the law has seen a series of amendments that expanded its coverage and provisions. The first amendment was made in 1970, when the definition of “animals” was broadened to include all warm-blooded animals, with the exception of farm animals.
Amendments to the law, which numbered eight, to be exact, have been made with the intention of providing the widest coverage of protection, which includes transportation, handling, research practices, and even psychological enrichment, possible for animals used in research and exhibition.
Petroleum Wholesale, a privately owned motor fuel distributor which has since been expanded to selling an assortment of retail offerings, is quite passionate about animal welfare. Learn more about its advocacy by subscribing to this blog.
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