Applications

This page will give you information on how to complete your Animal Ethics application.

For most school projects involving animals, the Animal Welfare Act stipulates that animal ethics approval must be obtained before the commencement of the project.

Requirements:

  • When thinking about your project, consider why you are wanting to use an animal. The use of an animal should be to enhance educational outcomes, with the prevention of harm. Every student and staff member should be mindful of the Three Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) when working with animals in a teaching environment. If you plan to use large numbers of animals, you should consider whether a smaller number would be enough. The welfare of the animal/s in your project you use is your responsibility.
  • Please ensure that you complete all sections of the form. If an application is received incomplete, the Animal Ethics Committee will not be able to consider the application during the meeting, leading to a delay in you being able to obtain approval and starting your project.
  • You must make contact with someone who has experience or is qualified in identifying any risks with your project. All actual and potential risks to the animal and/or to yourself should be considered.
  • Your application should be submitted to: animalethicscommitteenz@gmail.com at least 14 days prior to the next meeting date. For example, if the committee is meeting on the 24th of the month, please have your application with us by the 10th of the month.

Exemplars:

Mudcrab-ExemplarDownload
Sparrow_Hierarchy_ExemplarDownload
Exemplar_Paw_PrintsDownload
Guinea Pig ExemplarDownload

Inspiration

Here are a few ideas for projects:

  • Paw preferences in cats & dogs using normal toys & normal treats – Are they ambidextrous?
  • Frog whistling in the wild under different weather conditions
  • Seeing how cats respond to smell or hearing cues associated with dinner
  • Turtle’s response to being called by name
  • Numbers of poos cows do
  • Are Chickens colour blind?
  • Hoof oil on hoof growth in horses
  • Making of a solar powered dog kennel to warm the kennel at night
  • Observing deer to see if there is any relationship between when deer move and the phase of the moon
  • Dominance in mothering chickens at feeding time
  • Reactions of cats to different bird sounds
  • Testing which dog food makes the most or least poo
  • Trying to see if cats have unique paw prints
  • Pet preferences for fruit, meat & vegies; cat wet meat or dry biscuits
  • Mice/rat/guinea pig maze – can they learn a trail?
  • Chicken preferences for vegies, wheat & pellets
  • Biscuit colour preference in dogs
  • Food preference in wild birds
  • Trying find out the best/favourite dog biscuit
  • Food preference in cats
  • How much energy does cow urine produce?
  • Can you to train a dog/s to recognise three different coloured cards that are associated with different tricks/commands?

Human Ethics

If your project will involve humans in anyway, you must plan how you will incorporate the Human Ethics guidelines.

Please follow this link for more information: Human Ethics

Frequently asked questions

QDo we need to apply for animal ethics review to visit a rocky shore? We will not be taking any specimens but will be turning over rocks and potentially picking up crab and fish.
AApproval is not required since you are not interfering with the integrity of the animal. In fact, your activities are more akin to hunting of any animal in a wild state by a method that is not an experimental method which is specifically excluded as a manipulation according to the Animal Welfare Act.
ACan you please advise whether a child needs animal ethics approval for a project for the Science Fair that involves shellfish?
QNo, shellfish do not need approval. However, we are aware that at least one science fair appears to consider all animal projects need to go before an ethics committee as a prerequisite for entry. In these cases, if students complete an application form, we ‘sanction’ them and provide the students with “approval not required” certification.
QI would like to do a science experiment involving butterfly eggs. Do I need Ethics Approval?
AThe Animal Ethics Committee can advise that as this project involves invertebrates, it does not require Animal Ethics approval.  
QI live on a sheep farm and have an idea where I want to drench some of sheep with Garlic and Tea to see if this kills their worms.
AYes this project does need approval – and would not be able to be entered into a science fair without this.