Essay On Animal Breeding Regulations
When you hear the words “puppy mill”, what comes to mind? Do you envision dozens of sick, starving dogs with matted fur, crammed together in a steel cage? Well, that vision’s not wrong; puppy mills often have deplorable living conditions that result in health issues for the dogs they maintain. But what if the cute puppy in the window of your nearest pet store was living under these deplorable standards as well? Current dog breeding regulations make it easy for successful breeding facilities to violate even the most basic animal cruelty laws. Stricter regulation of canine breeding could be a viable option to reduce inbreeding, cruelty, and health issues for dogs for years to come.
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the first and only federal law that focuses on protecting animals bred for commercial use. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been enforcing the AWA since 1966 to protect certain animals from mistreatment. One important breeding-related guideline included in the Act is that commercial dog breeders can only breed up to three …show more content…
dogs at a time without a license. The majority of breeders need over three dogs for a profit, so this forces them to apply for a license.
To apply, the breeder must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid mailing address. Upon application, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) sends the applicant a copy of the regulations. Once the applicant receives the regulations, they must verify that they plan to obey them by signing a form. Next, a member of the APHIS investigates the applicant. According to the AWA, “Each applicant must demonstrate that his or her premises and any animals, facilities, vehicles, equipment, or other premises used or intended for use in the business comply with the regulations and standards set forth... Each applicant for an initial license or license renewal must make his or her animals, premises, facilities, vehicles, equipment, other premises, and records available for inspection during business hours and at other times mutually agreeable to the applicant and APHIS.” If the applicant harasses or interferes with the duty of the APHIS employee during the investigation, their possibility of getting a license disappears.
If the APHIS employee does not approve of the applicant after their first investigation, then the applicant can apply for a second investigation.
If they fail the second investigation, the applicant can apply for a final investigation. If they fail the final investigation, the applicant must wait a period of six months before reapplying. If, during any of these investigations, the APHIS employee approves of the applicant, they move on to the next step: paying their license fee.
The license fee a breeder pays is based on many factors, such as the amount of animals they breed and the money exchanged for these animals. Initial licenses also require an extra fee of $10. Licensees must renew their licenses every year. The process for renewing a license is the same as the price for acquiring a license, except that it doesn’t include the extra $10 fee. If a licensee fails to renew their license on time, they have to apply for a new
one.
The AWA establishes many rules that breeders must follow to keep their licenses. These rules exist to uphold livable standards for animals maintained by breeding facilities. Many of the rules involve the standard housing facilities that dogs live in. The AWA states, “Housing facilities for dogs and cats must be designed and constructed so that they are structurally sound. They must be kept in good repair, and they must protect the animals from injury, contain the animals securely, and restrict other animals from entering.” There are also some guidelines about specific materials and measurements that should be used when it comes to the maintenance of housing facilities. The surface of the housing facilities must not have excessive rust. There can be no buildup of trash, weeds, or any other waste. Cleaning must occur as often as possible in to prevent “eliminate odors, insects, pests, or vermin infestation”.
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the first and only federal law that focuses on protecting animals bred for commercial use. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been enforcing the AWA since 1966 to protect certain animals from mistreatment. One important breeding-related guideline included in the Act is that commercial dog breeders can only breed up to three …show more content…
dogs at a time without a license. The majority of breeders need over three dogs for a profit, so this forces them to apply for a license.
To apply, the breeder must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid mailing address. Upon application, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) sends the applicant a copy of the regulations. Once the applicant receives the regulations, they must verify that they plan to obey them by signing a form. Next, a member of the APHIS investigates the applicant. According to the AWA, “Each applicant must demonstrate that his or her premises and any animals, facilities, vehicles, equipment, or other premises used or intended for use in the business comply with the regulations and standards set forth... Each applicant for an initial license or license renewal must make his or her animals, premises, facilities, vehicles, equipment, other premises, and records available for inspection during business hours and at other times mutually agreeable to the applicant and APHIS.” If the applicant harasses or interferes with the duty of the APHIS employee during the investigation, their possibility of getting a license disappears.
If the APHIS employee does not approve of the applicant after their first investigation, then the applicant can apply for a second investigation.
If they fail the second investigation, the applicant can apply for a final investigation. If they fail the final investigation, the applicant must wait a period of six months before reapplying. If, during any of these investigations, the APHIS employee approves of the applicant, they move on to the next step: paying their license fee.
The license fee a breeder pays is based on many factors, such as the amount of animals they breed and the money exchanged for these animals. Initial licenses also require an extra fee of $10. Licensees must renew their licenses every year. The process for renewing a license is the same as the price for acquiring a license, except that it doesn’t include the extra $10 fee. If a licensee fails to renew their license on time, they have to apply for a new
one.
The AWA establishes many rules that breeders must follow to keep their licenses. These rules exist to uphold livable standards for animals maintained by breeding facilities. Many of the rules involve the standard housing facilities that dogs live in. The AWA states, “Housing facilities for dogs and cats must be designed and constructed so that they are structurally sound. They must be kept in good repair, and they must protect the animals from injury, contain the animals securely, and restrict other animals from entering.” There are also some guidelines about specific materials and measurements that should be used when it comes to the maintenance of housing facilities. The surface of the housing facilities must not have excessive rust. There can be no buildup of trash, weeds, or any other waste. Cleaning must occur as often as possible in to prevent “eliminate odors, insects, pests, or vermin infestation”.