All arrangements for acquiring and housing vertebrate animals, from any source, must be made through DLAM, except as described below. Arrangements for housing must be made before an order will be placed. Live vertebrate animals may not be purchased or otherwise acquired until a fully approved protocol is on file with the ARC. If wild animals are to be used, arrangements for any necessary quarantine must be made through DLAM before animals are acquired. The investigator is responsible for determining if permits (such as from US Fish and Wildlife or California Fish and Wildlife) are required and any necessary permits must be obtained before animals are acquired. DLAM can advise investigators whether permits are needed and provide help obtaining them.
Users requiring special care, equipment, or supplies for their animals or exemptions from standard animal care procedures must inform DLAM in writing so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Users must notify DLAM if their animals will be exposed to materials or procedures that may be hazardous to personnel.
In some cases, the ARC may grant approval for investigators to acquire animals through non-traditional sources (e.g., purchased from exotic fish stores or captured in the wild) that cannot be processed through DLAM. This approval must be documented in the ARC protocol. Investigators who acquire animals through non-traditional sources must provide DLAM (dlamimport@mednet.ucla.edu) with the following information immediately upon acquisition of animals:
- Investigator's name
- ARC protocol number
- A copy of the sales receipt or import slip, indicating the number of animals purchased or captured
- Animal species
- Vendor/source of animals