Opinion: Procedures using cats and dogs

In 2014, 621,027 animal experiments were registered in the Netherlands, including 1,098 involving dogs and 244 involving cats (source: Zo Doende, 2014). Of these, the vast majority were conducted for education purposes and for the development of medicines and vaccines intended for cats and dogs. Although the percentage of experiments involving cats and dogs accounted for approximately 0.2% of the total number of animal experiments in 2014, the use of cats and dogs in animal experiments remains a subject of public debate.

The then State Secretary of Economic Affairs asked the NCad to develop a national strategy to minimise the number of cats and dogs used in animal experiments by encouraging intensive cooperation between knowledge institutes. We were also asked to devise an accompanying public communication strategy.

In response to this request, in 2016 we formulated specific recommendations and guidance on reducing the use of dogs and cats as laboratory animals without compromising the quality of research and education. The recommendations are set out under three themes, being research required by law (also referred to as ‘regulatory testing’), education and fundamental research.

The recommendations in the context of research required by law relate to:

1. Harmonising guidelines
2. Reducing the number of retests
3. Promoting animal-free alternatives
4. Sharing data

The recommendations in the context of education relate to:

1. Abolishing the use of cats and dogs as laboratory animals
2. Practising procedures without the use of live dogs and cats
3. Widespread adoption of an animal donor codicil and improve the access to dead animals
4. Promoting the use of plastinates

The recommendations in the context of fundamental research relate to:

1. New technologies and non-invasive techniques
2. The exchange of tissue, organs and blood

With regard to public communication, we recommend placing more emphasis on the limited extent (0.2% of all animal research) and purpose of animal experiments involving dogs and cats. It is also important to call attention to the efforts made by various institutions to reduce the number of experiments using dogs and cats. We also see a role for the Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board in reducing research required by law using dogs and cats.