With the Ridglan Farms beagles still in the news, Congress is considering a new bill that will increase protection and improve living conditions for dogs bred in USDA-licensed breeding facilities. The Puppy Protection Act will require improved standards of care for puppies and dogs at these facilities that sell to pet stores, brokers and online by requiring outdoor access, daily socialization, better protection from harsh weather, twice-daily feeding and professional veterinary care. It will also require breeders to attempt to find homes for retired breeding dogs by offering them to shelters, rescues or individuals rather than destroying them.
The act (H.R. 2253 / S. 4437) is a bipartisan federal bill designed to update and strengthen the Animal Welfare Act.
Sen. Mark Durbin reintroduced the act in the Senate, saying, “For many of us, dogs are a part of our families. They should be raised in safe and humane conditions throughout their lives.” He added that, “As an animal lover, I’m proud to support this legislation that helps ensure breeding facilities are treating their puppies with respect and care.
If passed, this legislation mandates critical quality-of-life improvements:
- Space & Housing: Requires enclosures to be large enough for dogs to stand on their hind legs without touching the top, strictly prohibits stacked cages, and requires solid flooring.
- Exercise: Grants dogs more than 12 weeks old unrestricted access to ground-level, enclosed outdoor exercise areas.
- Socialization: Mandates at least 30 minutes of daily meaningful socialization with humans and compatible dogs.
- Veterinary Care & Breeding Limits: Requires a veterinarian screening prior to breeding, prohibits breeding a female dog more than twice in an 18-month period (and no more than 6 times in her lifetime) and requires breeders to responsibly rehome retired breeding dogs.
You can track the progress of the legislation or contact your congressional representatives to support the bill on Congress.gov. To learn more about getting involved in this act, visit the Humane World for Animals Legislative Fund or Best Friends Animal Society.
