The mission of the Division of Animal Resources (DAR) is to provide professional animal support services to the faculty, staff and students at Marshall University. The use of animals for teaching and research is a fundamental part of biology and medicine. Suitable animals are required for investigative and teaching purposes. Proper care and management of these animals is both a scientific necessity and a legal requirement.

Animals are sentient beings. This principle entails that the minimization of distress, pain and suffering is a moral imperative. Unless the contrary is established, investigators should consider that procedures that cause pain or distress in humans may cause pain or distress in other sentient animals. Animal use is a privilege granted to the scientific community by the public and its policy making institutions. Along with this privilege goes the ethical responsibility for their humane care and proper use. The University, the individual investigator and each staff member must share in this partnership of responsibility.