The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) was established in 1959 and governs institutional teaching and research use of all warm-blooded vertebrate animals except (exceptions are not excepted if used for biomedical research):

• Rats, Rattus norvegicus
• Mice, Mus musculus
• Birds
• Horses
• Farm animals used in agricultural research

Institutions must re-register with the USDA every three years under the guidelines of the AWA. The USDA enforces the AWA through two unannounced inspections of the Animal Care and Use Program per year which is conducted by the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

The AWA also governs the use of analgesia and anesthesia of animals. It dictates that research facilities include requirements for:

• Animal care, treatment, appropriate use of analgesics or anesthesia, tranquilizing drugs and euthanasia
• Principle investigator considering alternatives to causing pain or distress inducing procedures
• Veterinary consultation prior to execution of pain or distress inducing procedures
• Withholding the use of analgesics, anesthesia, tranquilizers or euthanasia

The AWA mandates the formation of an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at each institution composed of at least three members, one DVM and one community member. The IACUC is responsible for:

• Reviews of the Animal Care and Use Program twice per year
• Inspects animal housing and use areas twice per year
• Protocol review and approval
• Investigates complaints
• Suspending approval of deficient animal use activities
• Reporting uncorrected deficiencies to APHIS

The Public Health Service (PHS) policy on humane care and use of laboratory animals covers all activities with vertebrate animals funded with PHS funds (including National Institute of Health, NIH, funds). Institutions covered by PHS must submit a "Letter of Assurance" to the Office for Protection from Research Risks (OPRR) at NIH. The PHS is enforced by scheduled OPRR inspections. PHS requires and IACUC composed of at least five members including a scientist and one person whose primary interest is non-scientific.

The National Academy of Science's Institute of Laboratory Animal Science (ILAR) publishes a guide for animal care and use (Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals). The guide covers record keeping, facility planning, cage sizes and other topics. Another publication applies to farm animals used in research including: horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and poultry (Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching).

The Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC Int.) accredits organizations through inspections every three years nationwide. Its site reports are confidential and unavailable to the public.