105 CMR 910.010
Definitions
For the purpose of 105 CMR 910.000, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Ambient temperature means the temperature surrounding the animal.
Animal the dog and cat specifically, and all other sentient creatures except humans.
Animal Care Committee means the committee established by a research institution under federal
guidelines for review of research involving the use of animals.
Cat means any live or dead cat (Felis catus).
Commissioner means the Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health.
Department means the Department of Public Health.
Dog means any live or dead dog (Canis familiaris).
Euthanasia means the humane killing of an animal accomplished by a method which conforms to the
recommendations of the current American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia and
whichproduces instantaneous unconsciousness and immediate death without visible evidence ofpain.
Indoor housing facility means any structure orbuilding, housing or intended to house animals, which has
the capability of controlling the environment within the enclosure created by the continuous connection
of a roof, floor, and walls with at least one opening for entry and exit that is provided with a door or
any movable structure used to close offthe openingand typicallyconsistingofa panel of wood, glass,
metal, etc., which slides on rollers or swings on hinges. Any openings which provides natural light shall
be covered with a transparent material, e.g., glass, plastic, etc.
Licensee means a research institution holding a license issued by the Commissioner pursuant to
105 CMR 910.000.
Outdoor housing facility means any structure or building, housing or intended to house animals, which
does not meet the definition of "indoor housing facility."
Primary enclosure means any structure used to immediately restrict an animal or animals to a limited
amount of space, such as a room, pen, run, cage, compartment, pool, or hutch.
Record includes anyfiles, reports, forms or data maintained by a research institutionor required to be
maintained by the Commissioner regarding the care, handling, and veterinary treatment of research
animals.
Research Institution means any institution operated by the United States or bythe Commonwealth or
a political subdivision thereof, or any school or college of medicine, public health, dentistry, pharmacy,
veterinarymedicine, or agriculture, medical, biological or diagnostic laboratory, biologicalcorporation,
hospital or other educational or scientific establishment within the Commonwealth above the rank of
secondary school, which, in connection with any of its activities, investigates or gives instruction
concerning the structure or functions oflivingorganisms or the causes, prevention, control, or cure of
diseases or abnormal conditions of human beings or animals.
Sanitize means to make physically clean and to remove and destroy, to the maximum degree that is
practical, agents injurious to health.
Standards means the requirements of 105 CMR 910.000 with respect to the humane handling, care,
treatment, and transportation of animals by research institutions.
Veterinarian means a doctor of veterinary medicine who has a valid license to practice veterinary
medicine.