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Congress is returning to Washington this week for the brief lame-duck session. Major legislation, including House and Senate versions of a Farm Bill that contain new regulations for dog breeders, could be passed very quickly before the end of the year.  Already, lobbyists for animal rights groups are actively pushing to add language from the problematic Puppy Protection Act (HR 1624/S 5072) and Better CARE for Animals Act (H.R.5041/ Senate Bill 2555) to the Farm Bill.

Please respectfully call, email, or even leave a voice message for both your US House Representative and US Senators TODAY  Ask them to SUPPORT the Committee-passed version of the House Farm Bill (HR  8467) with NO additional amendments related to dogs.

Thank you for making your voice heard today.  Your action can help protect responsible breeders and purebred dogs.

Easy steps to contact your members of Congress:

Visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center legislator contact page at https://akcgr.org/officials and type in your address/ state to find the names and contact information for your U.S. Senators and US House Member.

  1. Explain you are a constituent. Respectfully share your experience and concerns as a dog owner/breeder/expert.
  2. Ask them to support the House Agriculture Committee-passed version of the House Farm Bill (HR 8467) with NO additional amendments related to dogs.

OPTIONAL: If you wish to be more specific, add the following details:

  • Ask them to oppose any added language from Better CARE for Animals Act and the Puppy Protection Act. These measures do nothing to improve the wellbeing of dogs, will create confusion in enforcing the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), and undermine prioritizing proper care and conditions for dogs.
  • Remind your lawmakers that the House Agriculture Committee-passed version of the Farm Bill already contains:
    • Additional resources for USDA to better enforce the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
    • Requires USDA to report to Congress on existing enforcement with recommendations on improving enforcement, and enhancing educational programs and outreach.
    • Requires any inspector finding unrelieved suffering by animals to report that immediately to local authorities who have jurisdiction over animal welfare in their communities.
    • Language from the Healthy Dog Importation Act, which addresses public health threats related to the import of unhealthy dogs into the U.S., without requiring that all dogs imported into the U.S. be a minimum of 6 months old. 

Background

Learn more about the House – Committee passed version of the Farm Bill, HR 8467

Summary of ‘Better CARE for Animals Act’ (H.R.5041/ Senate Bill 2555)

  • Circumvents enforcement of dog breeder licensing under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and shifts authority to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). This shift would move oversight authority from an agency staffed by animal experts that focuses on improving animal husbandry; and instead place it with one with little or no animal expertise that focuses on violations as potential federal crimes.
  • Empowers the DOJ to file charges, seize animals and impose penalties regardless of whether USDA has determined or even alleged that there has been a violation of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
  • Could potentially undermine or remove current exemptions from licensing for small hobby breeders, thereby requiring them to be licensed and comply with USDA standards for high volume commercial breeders that are not appropriate for hobbyists.

Summary of “Puppy Protection Act” (HR 1624/S 5072)

Places in statute arbitrary and poorly defined requirements for the care of all dogs that can undermine best practices.  By contrast, current AWA care requirements focus on performance based outcomes that allow for flexibility that recognizes the differing needs of different breeds and types of dogs.  Arbitrary requirements in HR 1624 include:

  • Mandated unfettered access from dogs’ primary enclosures to an outdoor exercise area large enough that it “allows dogs to extend to full stride”. This creates a potentially dangerous environment for dogs.
  • Mandated annual dental exams.
  • Completely solid flooring, despite scientific recognition that multiple types of high-quality flooring, including engineered slatted flooring, is beneficial in certain kennel types.
  • Mandated pre-breeding screenings. No specific details are provided for what the screening would involve or who would make such decisions.
  • Prohibition on the keeping of dogs in enclosures above 85 degrees or below 45 degrees F, regardless of breed or acclimation needs for dogs that hunt, sled, detect explosives, or do other work and thrive in cooler temperatures, or must be acclimated to cooler or warmer temperatures for their safety.

Further, it prohibits the breeding of a female dog:

  • Unless pre-screened by a veterinarian
  • If it would produce more than two litters in an 18-month period.
  • Based arbitrarily on the age and size of the dog.

To learn more, visit www.akcgr.org.