Today, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee released draft language for the 2024 Farm Bill. This must-pass bill reauthorizes USDA programs for five years and also seeks to address federal animal welfare and breeder oversight programs. As introduced, the bill supports important priorities for dog enthusiasts and responsible breeders, including canine health, welfare and the rights of responsible dog owners.
The committee will hold a markup next Thursday, May 23 to consider amendments to the bill. Amendments considered at the markup could potentially change the current, positive base text and undermine benefits achieved for responsible breeders, breeders dog owners and enthusiasts.
As a constituent of an important member of the House Agriculture Committee, it is crucial that your member of Congress hears from you today.
Ask them to support base text related to Title 12 – related to the Animal Welfare Act — that benefit dogs and responsible breeders.
Ask them to oppose any amendments to base text.
PLEASE ACT TODAY!
Even if your member of the U.S. House and Senate already shares these concerns, it is important that they hear from YOU, their constituents. Your individual contact makes a difference.
Easy ways to make a difference:
Call, email, or write to your member of Congress and U.S. Senators today. A personalized call, voice mail, or email is more effective than a preformatted message.
Alternatively, you can share your concerns with a preformatted message. Click here to send a message now. (one click format)
Easy steps to send a personalized message:
Visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center legislator contact page at https://akcgr.org/officials and type in your address to find the names and contact information for your Member of Congress and U.S. Senators.
- Explain you are a constituent. Respectfully share your experience and concerns as a dog owner/breeder/expert.
- Respectfully ask them to support base text of title 12 of the Farm Bill relating to the Animal Welfare Act. Ask them to oppose any amendments to this language.
- If you can, let the AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) team (doglaw@akc.org) know you contacted your lawmakers and if you received any response.
More information/Background:
Positive Measures to support in current House Farm Bill
Title 12 of the Farm Bill contains positive provisions including:
- Enhanced protections for dogs under the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The AWA provides the basis for federal breeder licensing and oversight. AKC supports improved enforcement of AWA violations, including additional resources and reporting for USDA. In recent years, poor enforcement of breeder requirements has resulted in high-profile cases used by anti-breeder groups to undermine the reputation of the vast majority of caring, responsible breeders. Efforts to defund educational outreach, including teachable moments, have further undermined a collegial approach to animal welfare and support of best practices.
- Seeks additional resources for USDA to better enforce the AWA and requires a report to Congress on existing enforcement with recommendations on improving enforcement, and enhancing educational programs and outreach.
- Animal Care: Clarifies that visual dental examination should be included in existing annual veterinary requirements.
- Improves USDA response related to any dogs found in a state of “unrelieved suffering” by requiring better and more timely notification of state and local authorities if an inspector finds that dogs are being kept in unacceptable conditions.
- Provides funding for transitional shelters for victims of domestic violence that allow victims to shelter with a pet. This measure reflects efforts privately supported by the AKC Humane Fund that ensure that concern for a pet left behind does not prevent a victim from seeking needed safety and shelter.
- Codifies the USDA’s National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan Georgia, which trains specially selected dogs (and their handlers) identify invasive pests and diseases that threaten agriculture. The measure is also known as H.R. 1480, “The Beagle Brigade Act”. It also grants authority to create additional training facilities and an off-site training program.
- Expands USDA’s electronic health documentation requirements for pets entering the United States. This reflects language in the Healthy Dog Importation Act (HR 1184) by requiring electronic records documentation on dogs prior to their importation that confirms the dog is in good health; microchipped; has received all necessary vaccination and parasite treatment, demonstrated negative test results, and has a health certificate from an accredited veterinarian; and in the case of a dog intended for transfer, is at least 6 months old. Exceptions are provided for dogs that are personal pets of United States origin returning to the United States; United States military working dogs; for research purposes; and coming to the United States solely for veterinary treatment; among several others.
Problematic Potential Amendments That Should be Opposed
- Language in the Better CARE for Animals Act (HR 5041/S 2555) would expand the power of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to enforce any violation of the AWA, and circumvent the USDA’s authority and the expertise of veterinarians and other animal experts at USDA to enforce animal care requirements. The so-called Better Care would also empower the DOJ to bypass USDA and file charges, including potentially criminal charges, seize animals and impose penalties regardless of whether USDA has determined or even alleged that there has been a violation of the AWA. USDA already has the demonstrated authority and ability to work with the DOJ on rare cases involving criminal conduct.
- Language originally in Goldie’s Act (HR 1788/S 4033), redefines violations of the AWA to remove the distinction between minor non-compliances such as paperwork errors and animal care violations. AKC believes the goal should be zero non-compliances, but the health and wellbeing of animals should always remain the priority. Goldie’s Act also allows for immediate seizure or euthanasia without due process of any animal an inspector perceives to be suffering from “psychological harm” — a term it does not define.
- One-Size-Fits all kennel engineering standards that undermine best care practices. Proposals from the Puppy Protection Act H.R. 1624 included inflexible and arbitrary prohibitions on breeding a dog based on size and age; mandated full time “unfettered access to exercise area large enough to allow extension of full stride”, arbitrary temperature requirements, and other requirements that become problematic without flexibility to allow for individual animals’ needs and requirements.
PLEASE ACT TODAY!
Call, email, or write to your member of Congress and U.S. Senators today. A personalized call, voice mail, or email is more effective than a preformatted message.
Alternatively, you can share your concerns with a preformatted message. Click here to send a message now. (one click format)
Easy steps to send a personalized message:
Visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center legislator contact page at https://akcgr.org/officials and type in your address to find the names and contact information for your Member of Congress and U.S. Senators.
- Explain you are a constituent. Respectfully share your experience and concerns as a dog owner/breeder/expert.
- Respectfully ask them to support base text of title 12 of the Farm Bill relating to the Animal Welfare Act. Ask them to oppose any amendments to this language.
- If you can, let the AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) team (doglaw@akc.org) know you contacted your lawmakers and if you received any response.