Chavonda Jacobs-Young
Agricultural Research Service Administrator Chavonda Jacobs-Young has named an animal welfare ombudsman as part of an animal welfare review for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in the wake of the recent New York Times article on conditions at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Institute in Nebraska.

Jacobs-Young announced the animal welfare program in a memo to ARS employees Friday.

The Hagstrom Report has obtained a copy of the memo, which is reprinted below.

---

From: ARS-Administrator
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2015 3:56 PM
To: ARS-ALL
Subject: Animal Welfare in ARS

Dear ARS Colleagues,

Many of you may have seen pictures, as I have, of cattle grazing on the National Mall in Washington, D.C,. as part of early USDA research studies. When I look out of my office window onto that same mall, I reflect on the legacy of animal health and welfare ARS and our predecessors have given this country and the world. wonder how many people know that we in ARS can claim lineage of our animal work from the likes of Daniel E. Salmon, who established the first veterinary division within USDA, and thus began the Department’s singular accomplishments in animal health, production, and safety. I am so proud to be a part of ARS and the history of delivering real solutions to real people around the world.

Animal welfare is a priority in ARS, both with the animals in our labs, and in the research results we produce. I take pride in our research record and ownership of the welfare of the animals under our care. That’s why I am writing to you today about the New York Times story that reported about our Clay Center location. Similar to challenges we have faced in the past, we will use this opportunity to enhance and improve our Agency by taking a look at our protocols, re-emphasizing our priorities, and re-committing ourselves to animal welfare in our labs and in our research.

Eileen Thacker
Effective today I am informally naming Dr. Eileen Thacker as the first ARS Animal Welfare Ombudsman. Dr. Thacker is an ARS National Program Leader in both Food Safety and Animal Health, a veterinarian with a PhD in pathology and Board Certified in Veterinary Microbiology. Please remember we all own the responsibility for animal welfare; if you see something that disturbs you, please report it, first to your supervisor or their supervisor or your Area Office. At any point in the process, or if you feel additional action needs to take place, please contact the Animal Welfare Ombudsman to directly communicate your concern. We will update the ARS Policy and Procedure to reflect this new process. In the meantime, you can email questions or concerns to me. I take this issue very seriously and all messages will be thoroughly reviewed. I will keep you updated as the Ombudsman reporting procedures are developed.

At his direction, ARS will provide Secretary Vilsack an updated Animal Welfare Strategy within 60 days. Strategy will include updated training for all those who work with animals in their labs. An independent panel review of our protocols and policies regarding animal handling and research-related practices in ARS will also be an integral component. During this time we will coordinate with the agency that has primary responsibility for administering the Animal Welfare Act.

We are going to take this opportunity to do something positive; we will look across ARS at all our facilities involved in animal research. So join me in moving forward, identifying new protocols if necessary, and sharing best practices across our considerable network of locations. There is strength across our laboratories, and we will use this energy to propel us forward for the continued benefit of our customers, stakeholders, partners, and the public. I ask you to stand with me in supporting Clay Center and the entire ARS enterprise.

As plans progress, keeping all of you informed will remain a priority. I will update you on the 60-day review for Secretary Vilsack as plans take shape. As always, I thank you for the work you do each and every day for the people of this country and the world.

You make a difference and I am proud to be your ARS Administrator.

Chavonda Jacobs-Young
ARS Administrator