Animal Welfare Act (AWA) > Improvements

Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) has been investigating commercial dog breeders and brokers, and the USDA’s efforts at enforcement, for many years. They have investigated over 1,000 commercial breeding facilities in sixteen states, including Minnesota.

Their conclusion: “Although some improvements in the USDA’s regulations are warranted, the larger problem is that the USDA is simply not enforcing them adequately. The USDA’s rules are too often ignored, not only by those who are regulated, but also by the regulators themselves. … Simply put either through omission, misfeasance, and (we fear), in some cases, malfeasance, the USDA is not getting the job done. … We question whether the USDA is even institutionally capable of adequately implementing the puppy mill protection provisions of the AWA. Thus, we believe the appropriate congressional committees should conduct prompt and vigorous oversight of the USDA’s management of this program.” 

• Companion Animals Protection Society USDA’s Failure to Enforce the Animal Welfare Act
• Animal Welfare Act on the Mend: HSUS