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Welcome!

The Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) is a key component of UW’s animal care and use program. OAW supports the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), as well as researchers and educators who use live vertebrate animals and cephalopods as part of their research.

About OAW

News and Events

News

Dog Aging Project

Two dogs on porchBy working with tens of thousands of community scientists and dog owners across the United States, the Dog Aging Project is creating a frailty instrument that can inform health decisions and personalize geriatric veterinary care for dogs of all shapes and sizes. UW biologist and project co-director, Dr. Daniel Promislow, views the similarities between frailty in humans and animals as a benefit to both species: “Dogs get the same kinds of diseases that humans get. They also show the same kinds of frailty that we see in humans.”

A review of frailty instruments in human medicine and proposal of a frailty instrument for dogs. Front Vet Sci 2023 Jun 27:10:1139308. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1139308. eCollection 2023.

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Impact of climate change on activity levels of African carnivore species

Cheetah cub and adult

“Changing temperatures can impact the behavior patterns of large carnivore species and also the dynamics among species,” said University of Washington biologist Briana Abrahms, a study co-author.

In an investigation of the impact of climate change on the activity levels of four large African carnivore species (lions, leopards, cheetachs, and African wild dogs), it was determined that most species became more active at night and their activity levels reduced with increasing temperature. This effect was most prominent in cheetahs, which are typically hunt during the daytime, but they were found to shift their activity toward dawn and dusk hours during warmer weather.

Unfortunately for endangered cheetahs, that sets them up for more potential conflicts with mostly nocturnal competing predators such as lions and leopards, according to the authors of the research study, in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

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A Deeper Look into the New Weight Loss Drugs

Weight loss drugsNewly approved drugs that induce weight loss like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound, are viewed by some as the “magic pill” they’ve been waiting for. However, there can be unwanted side effects and the weight loss does not appear to be permanent unless the patients continue to take the drug. In their recent commentary, UW researchers Dr. Michael Schwartz and Sophie Yang Gou, discuss how these drugs are thought to work, the body’s adaptation and response to the weight loss, and financial and ethical considerations for society.

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UW researcher slows down hummingbirds to study them

A hummingbird flying next to a feederAlejandro Rico-Guevara has dedicated his life to looking at Hummingbirds in ways other people can’t. What he’s learned changed the world’s understanding of hummingbirds and, at times, has been of great use to humans.

Credit: Courtesy of Ben Henwood

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Animal Care, Outreach, and 3Rs Program (ACO3Rs)

At the University of Washington Animal Care, Outreach, and 3Rs Program (ACO3Rs), our mission is to advance both science and the well being of animals through innovative research, benevolent care, and informative outreach, while championing the principles of the 3Rs: Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement.

By embracing our core values and principles, we aspire to be a leading force in promoting ethical and humane treatment of animals, fostering scientific progress, and cultivating a compassionate society

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Reporting Animal Welfare Concerns

purple attention icon white backgroundThe University of Washington investigates any allegations of suspected misuse of animals or deficiencies regarding the care and use of research or teaching animals. To make a report or discuss a concern or perceived problem, please submit a concern.

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Fast Facts

Did you know?

There are nearly 300 specialized research centers or institutes at the UW.

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