Animal Care Facility

FIU’s Animal Care Facility is registered as a research facility with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act and Regulations. The FIU Animal facility is inspected by the USDA to ensure that all activities involving research animals are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Dr. Horatiu V. Vinerean, Director and Attending Veterinarian, Laboratory Animal Research, is responsible for a uniform comprehensive veterinary care program for all FIU facilities and oversight for the entire FIU biomedical research program.

FIU has a full-time Facility Supervisor, Amable Tellez, that provides to the Attending Veterinarian by triaging ill animals, carrying out treatment plans and monitoring post-surgical cases in addition to husbandry duties.

In addition, the Attending Veterinarian provides assistance to research personnel and investigators on usage, procurement and general handling and care of animals; review of animal use protocols; monitoring of the occupational health program for employees; supervision of the employees and activities.

Veterinary care is provided by daily rounds of all animal rooms including weekends and holidays. If an animal is to be abnormal the Attending Veterinarian is notified and he will do an examination of the animal and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

In the event of an emergency, please refer to the guidelines outlined in the ACF Crisis Management Plan.

Anyone visiting the ACF must follow the requirements found in the Visitor Awareness Package.

Need Assistance?

If you need assistance during normal office hours, the Laboratory Animal Research can be reached by calling 305-348-7408.