Education & Resources
Through various resources and educational materials, AWI equips learners of all types to improve the lives of animals. Through education, we aim to foster an understanding of the positive impact that compassionate attitudes and behaviors can have on animals, the environment, and ourselves.
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AWI provides free, downloadable books, reports, lesson plans, and brochures on a variety of animal welfare issues. Many of our materials are also available printed and are provided free to those who can put them directly to use helping animals, and at cost for all others. Libraries, teachers, and research facilities may obtain one free copy of all publications. Place your order online through the order form or by calling us at (202) 337-2332.
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Refinements for Rodents and Rabbits in Research Institutions
Book Published 2026
Synthetization of the last 15 years of research on welfare improvements to the housing and care of mice, rats, other rodents, and rabbits used in experimentation. Chapters include: housing, social housing, environmental enrichment, abnormal behavior, human-animal interaction, colony management, and...
NAMS: Advancing Science and Reducing Animal Use in Laboratories
A brochure developed by AWI for high schoolers. Many scientists and animal advocacy groups have a shared goal of reducing or eliminating the use of animals in laboratories as nonanimal methods advance. Studies using these nonanimal methods—collectively called “new approach...
Pig Anatomy Workbook
Lesson Plan/Activity Published 2024
Workbook developed by Elisabeth Ormandy, an educator specializing in non-animal teaching methods, that cover biology and anatomy concepts for students in grades K–12 using dissection alternatives.
Rat Anatomy Workbook
Lesson Plan/Activity Published 2024
Workbook developed by Elisabeth Ormandy, an educator specializing in non-animal teaching methods, that cover biology and anatomy concepts for students in grades K–12 using dissection alternatives.
Frog Anatomy Body Systems Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan/Activity Published 2024
Lesson plan developed by Elisabeth Ormandy, an educator specializing in non-animal teaching methods, that cover biology and anatomy concepts for students in grades K–12 using dissection alternatives.
Pig Anatomy Organ Systems Unit Plan
Lesson Plan/Activity Published 2024
Lesson plan developed by Elisabeth Ormandy, an educator specializing in non-animal teaching methods, that cover biology and anatomy concepts for students in grades K–12 using dissection alternatives.
Rat Anatomy Organ Systems Unit Plan
Lesson Plan/Activity Published 2024
Lesson plan developed by Elisabeth Ormandy, an educator specializing in non-animal teaching methods, that cover biology and anatomy concepts for students in grades K–12 using dissection alternatives.
Frog Anatomy Workbook
Lesson Plan/Activity Published 2024
Workbook developed by Elisabeth Ormandy, an educator specializing in non-animal teaching methods, that cover biology and anatomy concepts for students in grades K–12 using dissection alternatives.
The Magic of Touch Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan/Activity Published 2020
For educators teaching in high school and beyond, this lesson plan connected to the book by Annie and Viktor Reinhardt was created with teacher Nancy Kellum Brown appropriate for courses involving animal behavior, ethology, environmental studies, and philosophy.
It’s Okay to Cry
Book Published 2020
Compendium of Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum (LAREF) discussions, in which laboratory animal care personnel share information regarding innovative ways to improve the housing and handling of animals in research; edited by Viktor Reinhardt.
The Magic of Touch
Book Published 2017
Book reviewing the scientific and professional literature to present evidence on the calming, stress-buffering and life-enhancing effect of touch among animals, among humans, and between animals and humans, by Annie and Viktor Reinhardt.
Committed to Animal Welfare
Book Published 2016
Compendium of Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum (LAREF) discussions, in which laboratory animal care personnel share information regarding innovative ways to improve the housing and handling of animals in research; edited by Viktor Reinhardt.
Comfortable Quarters for Laboratory Animals
Book Published 2015
Guide for laboratory animal care personnel on the humane housing and handling of individual animal species in research facilities; edited by Cathy Liss, Kenneth Litwak, Dave Tilford and Viktor Reinhardt.
Monkeys Don’t Wear Diapers
Book Published 2015
In Monkeys Don’t Wear Diapers: Heartwarming and Heartbreaking Stories from a Monkey Sanctuary, Polly Schultz tells the stories of a special group of monkeys who have come to OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary, which Polly founded and continues to direct. Some...
Compassion Makes a Difference
Book Published 2013
Questions, answers and comments posted to the forum by dozens of LAREF members over the course of two and a half years, relating personal experiences in refining the conditions under which animals are housed and handled in research laboratories; edited...
Caring Hands
Book Published 2010
Nearly 2,000 comments by animal care personnel on a variety of topics aimed at improving the living and handling conditions of animals in research; edited by Viktor Reinhardt.
Roots of Human Behavior
Book Published 2009
Vibrant photo documentation of the parallels between animal and human expressions, emotions, and psychology; by Viktor Reinhardt.
Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs
Book Published 2008
Abridged conversations from LAREF containing practical tips and commentary on animals in experimental laboratories; edited by Vera Baumans, Casey Coke, Jennifer Green, Erik Moreau, David Morton, Emily Patterson-Kane, Annie Reinhardt, Viktor Reinhardt, and Pascalle Van Loo.
Environmental Enrichment and Refinement for Nonhuman Primates Kept in Research Laboratories
Book Published 2008
Photo documentation of ways in which macaques are housed and handled in research laboratories, and of successes in developing and implementing refinement alternatives; by Viktor and Annie Reinhardt.
Safe Pair Housing of Macaques
Book Published 2008
Guide for laboratory animal care personnel on ways to facilitate compatibility when housing rhesus macaques; by Jodi Carlson.
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AWI is in the process of migrating our vast library of resources and research to this new website. As we do, we are taking advantage of this opportunity to inspect our work and ensure every file meets our accessibility standards. We are fully committed to providing equal access for all people. As such, we are prioritizing upcoming and recent work before remediating older files in the library. If you need a special accommodation or need an older item made accessible sooner, please let us know what you need, by when, and any details about the kind of accommodation you need. We’ll work with you. This process will take time. We appreciate your patience. Thank you.