Animals on Campus

Animal Care and Use Program

This section provides information to ensure the health and safety of all employees interacting with animals on campus.

1. Understanding Animals on Campus

Animals on campus are integral to various educational programs and research projects which include the following:

  1. Fish facility at KPU Surrey Campus: For teaching and research purposes
  2. Farrier Barn Program at KPU Cloverdale Campus is an active teaching program

Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and Good Animal Practice (GAP) certification

Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) certification demonstrates an institution's commitment to achieving high standards of ethical animal care and use in science

Good Animal Practice (GAP) Certification from the CCAC is required by the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research and in the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions

Canadian people, while generally supportive of animal-based science, believe that the welfare and ethical treatment of the animals involved are of the utmost importance. Furthermore, an organization’s ethical animal care and use program is certified based on institutional compliance with CCAC standards and other relevant standards.  

KPU aims to receive the GAP certification from CCAC. Becoming GAP certified will foster innovation and improvement of courses and programs involving animal use at KPU. It will also increase opportunities for collaboration in research, and ensure accountability to the community.

Any employee who intends to work with animals must complete the mandatory Animal Ethics Course. 

2. Risks Associated with Animals

All employees need to be aware of risks when working with animals to ensure their safety. The following risks include:  

  • Allergies: Exposure to animal dander, fur, or saliva can trigger allergic reactions in some individuals. Symptoms can range from mild irritation to severe respiratory issues. Employees with known allergies should take preventive measures, such as using protective clothing and working in well-ventilated areas.
  • Infections: potential risk of zoonotic diseases (e.g., salmonella, ringworm, and viral infections), which are infections transmitted from animals to humans. Proper hygiene practices (e.g., hand washing and personal protective equipment) are essential to minimize these risks.
  • Physical Injuries: Handling animals can sometimes result in bites, scratches, or other injuries. Larger animals, like horses or dogs, pose risks of more severe injuries due to their size and strength. Employees should be trained in safe animal handling techniques and use appropriate safety equipment to prevent injuries.

3. Community Outreach and Third-Party Animal-Based Activities

KPU actively engages in community outreach activities and permits third-party animal-based activities on campus, such as dog or horse clubs using KPU facilities. To ensure these activities are conducted safely and ethically, the following process has been established:

  • Any individual or group intending to involve animals in community outreach or third-party activities must complete the 'Oversight of Animal-Based Activities and Community Outreach Form'.
  • The completed form must be submitted for approval from the Animal Care Committee (ACC).
  • Submit the form to the ACC website for review and approval.

This process ensures that all animal-based activities comply with institutional guidelines and promotes a safe and ethical environment for both animals and participants.

For more detailed information or assistance, please visit the

 ACC website.

4. Pets on Campus

Please be advised that in consideration for the health and safety of all members of the university community, pets or animals are not permitted in university owned, leased, rented buildings or vehicles with the exception of animals that are serving as guides or aides to their owners (service guide dogs) and animals required for academic purposes.

All animals on the University grounds must be properly restrained and under the care and control of their owner or guardian at all times. Owners or guardians must comply with all provincial and municipal by-laws pertaining to licensing and animal control.


Animal Control By-Law: