Research institutions using animals are subject to regulatory oversight, but the quality of welfare programs varies enormously between institutions with different cultures and resource levels.
Institutional animal welfare quality is shaped by leadership culture as much as regulatory compliance. Institutions where animal welfare is valued independently of regulatory requirement invest in welfare assessment, enrichment programs, and staff training beyond minimum standards. The exclusion of mice, rats, and birds from US AWA protection is a significant gap — the species used in 95% of research lack statutory protections that other research animals receive.