UTK Canine Exercise Plan

A canine exercise plan is required by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Welfare Standards, Final Rules (9 CFR Part 3, paragraph 3.8), published in the Federal Register, February 15, 1991. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville plan for the exercise of dogs is:

1. All dogs over 12 weeks of age housed individually in primary enclosures that     provide more than two times the required floor space do not require additional    opportunity for exercise.
   
   
2. All dogs over 12 weeks of age which are housed individually in primary             enclosures (cages, pens or runs) that provide less than twice their space         requirement1 will be provided the opportunity for exercise and socialization by animal facility and research personnel. Daily exercise will be provided as follows:
   
   Dogs will be removed from their pens or runs and given access to open areas daily for at least 5 minutes. If possible, two or more compatible individuals will be released together. During this time, positive physical contact2 will be provided to each dog by the individual releasing the animal. Alternatively, dogs may be leash walked a minimum of two times a day, and provided positive contact during this period.
   
   
3. All dogs individually housed in a facility without sensory contact with other dogs    will be provided with positive physical contact from animal facility and/or research personnel for at least 20 minutes per day.
   
   
4. Dogs over 12 weeks of age housed in compatible groups do not require additional opportunity for exercise if they are maintained in primary enclosures that provide   in total at least 100% of the required space for each dog if maintained separately.
   
   
5. Dogs can be exempted from the above requirements if it is determined to be      inappropriate for reasons of health, condition or well-being. All exemptions must     be approved and documented in the animals' medical records by the Attending Veterinarian3. All exemptions will be reviewed at least every 30 days, unless the
   reason for exemption is a permanent condition.
   
   
6. Research dogs can be exempted from the above requirements, provided the      investigator documents the scientific reasons for the exemption in the research proposal and the exemption is approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Research exemptions must be reviewed annually.

1 Required floor space per dog is determined by calculating the mathematical square of  the sum of the length of dog (measured from the tip of its nose to the base of the tail, plus 6 inches). Divide the mathematical square by 144 to obtain required floor space in square feet.

2 Positive physical contact is defined as petting, stroking or other positive interaction, which is beneficial to the animal.

3 The Attending Veterinarian is defined as a veterinarian, trained or experienced in the care and management of the species being attended, and who has direct or delegated authority for activities involving animals at the facility.

Revised/Approved by the Attending Veterinarian _____________________________
                                                                                    Patricia N. Coan, DVM, Ph.D.

Revised 2/14/2007
Approved by IACUC  3/6/2007