Final answer:
The owner has legal authority over animal care, but in research settings, IACUCs ensure compliance with federal guidelines, and cultural norms can also influence care.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ultimate decision-making authority over the care provided to an owned animal legally rests with the animal's owner. However, both ethical considerations and legal frameworks guide how ownership responsibilities are carried out. In the context of animal research, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) are established to ensure federal guidelines are met.
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals provide the legislative foundation by which animal research is regulated, particularly for institutions receiving federal funding. These committees are responsible for overseeing that animals are treated humanely and that research protocols adhere to strict ethical standards. In addition to the IACUC, other factors such as cultural norms and mutual relationships between humans and animals may influence the decision-making process in non-research contexts.