Adoption

Rehoming

Annually, very few large laboratory animals at Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht are available for adoption. These animals are usually rehomed with employees or students. Rodents (especially mice and rats) are, however, rehomed with individuals outside the institutions.

After rehoming ex-trial animals (such as rats and mice), we want to ensure their welfare. We have therefore made this video why we explain to adopters about the symptoms they may encounter if their rat or mouse is sick. We also made this Prezi (interactive presentation) where you can read about rat behavior and how best to get your ex-lab rats used to their new environment.

Conditions

• The animal is suitable for adoption (healthy, not aggressive, properly socialised, etc.).
• The welfare of the animal is guaranteed.
• There is no danger to public health, the health of the animal, or the environment.

The animal welfare officers are responsible for evaluating whether these conditions have been met and for advising on the proper care and accommodation for the animal after adoption.

As Animal Welfare Body Utrecht, we follow the rehoming advisory report of the Netherlands National Committee for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (NCad) and our policy on surplus laboratory animals reuse and rehoming, which is based on the former advice, on behalf of Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht.

Lab-rats adoption

The Animal Welfare Body Utrecht regularly has lab rats available for adoption. Most rats become available after behavioral research (observing behavior) or are left over from breeding. Both males and females become available, always in same-sex groups. Sometimes the animals have undergone an injection or blood sampling. The total suffering the animals have undergone is never more than "mild distress". All animals are well socialized and their health is monitored.

Would you like to adopt rats? please read through this attachment first and sign up as an adopter at adoptie.ivd@uu.nl.
Please state:

• Why you want to adopt rats.
• Whether you have male, female or no preference for gender animals.
• Whether you want 2, 3, 4 or more animals
• What kind of cage you have
• Whether you have had rats before

You will be placed on the contact list and notified by us when animals that fit your needs are available.

To help adopters get started, we have created an informative video about illness and pain and a Prezi on how best to get new rats used to his/her new environment. In addition, you can read more about the origins of this initiative on this page.