legislation > Animal Welfare Act > 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.” 

• CAPS: USDA’s Failure to Enforce the Animal Welfare Act

USDA ANNUAL REPORTS

• USDA: Animal Care Annual Reports
• USDA: Animal Care Annual Report of Activities Fiscal Year 2007

Animals in medical research

The USDA has published comprehensive reports of animals used in research, of which dogs are included. Below are links highlighting details of this report and an explanation for why it is now published. (Note dates.)

• Just Released, in Expanded Form: USDA Animal Welfare Act Enforcement Report