Which description best describes category C animals?

• A. Animals being held but not yet used
• B. Animals not experiencing pain or distress
• C. Animals experiencing pain or distress and receiving appropriate drugs for relief of pain or distress
• D. Animals experiencing pain or distress and not receiving drugs for relief of pain or distress

Answer: (B)

Category C describes animals that are experiencing pain or distress but are being treated with appropriate drugs to relieve that pain or distress. This reflects a welfare approach where suffering is acknowledged and actively mitigated through analgesia, anesthesia, or sedation as needed. It’s not about the animal not being in pain, nor about the stage of being held or used, but about the presence of pain/distress being addressed with relief strategies. The other descriptions either describe animals not in pain (or not currently distressed) or describe pain without any relief, which are not what category C conveys.