Where should the USDA annual report be sent?

The USDA annual report should be sent to the APHIS AC Regional Director. This is because the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is the branch of the USDA responsible for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act and overseeing animal welfare standards. The Animal Care (AC) division within APHIS specifically handles reports related to animal research facilities and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.

Submitting the report to the APHIS AC Regional Director helps facilitate proper oversight and allows for the collection of data needed to monitor and evaluate animal welfare practices across facilities. This ensures that all necessary documentation is reviewed by the appropriate regulatory authority that is directly involved in animal care enforcement and compliance. The other options, while related to animal welfare in different contexts, do not involve the specific regulatory submission process outlined by the USDA regulations.