Federal law could increase scrutiny at dog breeding facilities

Law would broaden USDA jurisdiction, change exercise requirement

Lawmakers are trying to close a loophole that exempts some large-scale dog breeders from federal scrutiny when the breeders sell directly to the public.

“Even though they’re these massive operations, they are not under the jurisdiction of the Animal Welfare Act because they’re selling directly to consumers,” said Tom Mentzer, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Sam Farr. “And so you have these puppy mills that should be regulated because they are huge commercial operations, but they’re not.”

Representative Farr, of California, introduced the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act in the House of Representatives Sept. 18, and he is among more than 20 representatives and senators sponsoring or co-sponsoring the bill in their respective houses. U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois introduced it in the Senate.

It did not appear likely at press time that H.R. 6949 would pass this year, and Mentzer said Farr will likely reintroduce it in January or February.

“I think we’re trying to build momentum so we can introduce it early on in the 111th Congress,” Mentzer said in early October.

The AVMA has monitored but not yet taken a position on the bill

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