• Provide the highest standard of care for animals used in research and education, thus ensuring the health and wellbeing of the animals,
• Support the faculty and staff by reducing experimental variables due to stress and disease in animal models,
• Provide the highest standard of care for animal patients in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and
• Serve the public by assuring quality humane animal care in compliance with federal, state, and university laws, regulations, and policies.

To carry out this mission LAR offers the following services:  

• Comprehensive veterinary care program for animals used in teaching and research
• Training in experimental techniques for faculty, staff, and students
• Perform, or assist in performing, experimental techniques as arranged
• Procurement of animals from approved sources
• Animal housing in conventional, isolation and containment environments
• Daily husbandry in main campus facilities, the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Animal Resource Station
• Animal transportation as arranged

It is strongly recommended that faculty contact LAR during the planning of projects that will involve the use of animals.  LAR veterinarians are available for consultation, particularly for projects that may involve animal pain or distress.   Animal housing space and equipment are not assigned until a project has been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC); However, informing LAR of project needs in advance may help to avoid delays when the project is approved.   It is important to note that IACUC approval of a project is not a guarantee that appropriate housing space and equipment is immediately available for the project.