New book from NIH examines Class B dealers

In response to a request of Congress, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) charged the National Academies to critically examine the general desirability and necessity of using random source dogs and cats in NIH-funded research, and the specific necessity of using dogs and cats from Class B dealers for such research. Research animals that come from the general population, rather than from commercial breeders, are “random source” animals.

The findings overall are heartening:

• "The consequences of the animal protection movement and public opinion have increasingly closed access to random source dogs and cats from pounds and shelters, have resulted in greater effort by USDA to inspect and enforce the [Animal Welfare Act] in regards to Class B dealers, and have pressured research institutions to use purpose-bred animals from Class A dealers, to explore alternative sources of animals such as donation programs or direct acquisition, to use alternate non-animal models, and to use less iconic species, such as pigs and small ruminants in lieu of dogs [and cats]." (p. 32)
• "During Fiscal Year 2007, 2,863 Class B dogs and 276 Class B cats were sold for research, representing only 4% of the dogs and 1.2% of the cats used in research." (pp. 67-68)
• "... there are only 11 Class B dealers, one of which is [suspended] and not likely to resume operation, and 5 others are under 'intense scrutiny.' One deals with non-random source hounds only, and another deals principally in animals with naturally acquired parasitism for veterinary product (non-NIH) research." (p. 72)

However, caution is still required when rehoming pets:

• "...the purchase price of a young, 20-25 kg dog runs $325 - $350 for random source and $600 - $900 for purpose-bred." (p. 75)
• "... USDA could not offer assurances that pet theft does not occur, and agreed that such a crime is exceedingly difficult to prove, almost requiring an eyewitness. There are descriptions of thefts provided by informants in prison [and] documented accounts of lost pets that have ended up in research institutions through Class B dealers." (p. 78)
• "[USDA] inspectors do not check for microchips" (p. 79)

The bottom line: "Trends in the use of Class B dogs and cats in research suggest that for a variety of reasons ... the Class B dealer system may soon become unavailable to provide animals for research." (p. 86)

Source: Scientific and Humane Issues in the Use of Random Source Dogs and Cats in Research