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
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