What is the difference between 'regulated' and 'nonregulated' species under the Animal Welfare Act?

• A. Regulated species are warm-blooded mammals such as dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs; the Act does not cover mice, rats, and birds bred for research.
• B. Regulated species include all animals used in research; nonregulated species are only reptiles.
• C. There is no difference; all animals are regulated equally.
• D. Only primates are regulated; other species are nonregulated.

Answer: (A)

Understanding how the Animal Welfare Act draws the line between regulated and nonregulated species is about what the Act requires oversight for. Regulated species are the warm-blooded mammals the Act explicitly protects, such as dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs. The important distinction is that mice, rats, and birds bred for research are not covered by the AWA, so they are nonregulated. This difference matters because facilities working with regulated species must meet AWA requirements like licensing, inspections, and defined animal care standards, along with IACUC oversight. Nonregulated species, while not subject to those AWA mandates, may still be governed by other policies or funding regulations, but they aren’t covered by the Act itself.