To comply with legislation enacted in 2021, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has proposed new general rules about the inspections it conducts, including for dog breeders licensed by the State of Texas.
Texas dog breeders should be licensed by the state if they (1) possess 11 or more adult intact female dogs or cats, (2) are engaged in the business of breeding those animals for direct or indirect sale or for exchange in return for consideration, and (3) sell or exchange, or offer to sell or exchange, not fewer than 20 animals in a calendar year.
The proposed rules would:
- Allow TDLR to perform inspections with or without advance notice or as a result of a complaint.
- Require inspections to be performed during the regular operator hours of the location being inspected.
- Upon completion, require that TDLR provide the license holder/applicant/representative with written results of the inspection.
- Allow TDLR to use alternative inspection methods, including use of videoconferencing technology, instead of in-person inspections.
- Require license holders, applicants, and others to cooperate while inspections are conducted.
More specific procedures are provided in Licensed Breeder Program rules.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Dog breeders licensed by the State of Texas and other interested parties are encouraged to review the proposed rules and submit comments to TDLR. TDLR is accepting comments on the proposal until Monday, November 28, 2022. Comments may be submitted to TDLR electronically on its website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.