Question: What would you say is the most significant action you have taken that has improved the lives of lab animals?

Joanna Cruden answered on 21 Jun 2012:

Hi Lucyyy, what a good question, I would say my ferret work was the most significant thing for me because we had to house ferrets in a high containment cage which from a health and safety point of view meant we were not allowed to give them any enrichment items because they were deemed to high a risk to human heath (containment level 3 pathogens are things that will most certainly kill a human if they catch them). So I had to fight very hard to get enrichment in the cages, this meant I ran several studies to show how much ferrets need enrichment for their wellbeing, I was lucky the researchers were on my side as animals who have a more enriched life are better experimental models because you know any side effects are down to the test and not the animals mental state.

I managed to find (with them help of the technicians) several options of disposable things we could give the ferrets and enhance their wellbeing without compromising the people’s safety, for example cardboard boxes with torn paper, I also helped to re-design the cage for the ferret to improve the environment and the life of the animal. If you are interested the moderators sent my paper to another student and you are very welcome to have a copy, just drop them a line, but please bear in mind these are laboratory animals and the final solution was not ideal but it was a million times better than the original cage and environment the paper I also refined a handling technique for the ferrets to be dosed which people came to be trained in across the land, so that is my most significant action, although only for a few animals, I have done other improvements for a greater number but not as significant as for the ferrets because I changed not only the cage but the handling and environment.