The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees the Animal Welfare Act. Specific administration falls to the Animal Care Program (AC), which is part of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which is a division of the USDA.

Key contacts include:

Dr. Elizabeth Goldentyer
Regional Director, Eastern Region USDA/APHIS/Animal Care (AC)
920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606-5210
Fax: 919-855-7123
Phone (general office): 919-855-7100
Email (general office): aceast@aphis.usda.gov

Ms. Kathy Hovancsak
Supervisory, Animal Care Specialist
920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606-5210
Fax: 919-855-7123
Phone (general office): 919-855-7100
Email (general office): aceast@aphis.usda.gov

Ms. Cindy J. Smith
Administrator
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Room 312-E, Whitten Building
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
cindy.j.smith@usda.gov

Mr. Kevin Shea
Deputy Administrator
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Room 312-E, Whitten Building
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
kevin.a.shea@usda.gov

Dr. Chester A. Gipson
Deputy Administrator of Animal Care
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service
USDA-APHIS-AC, Rm. 2D13
4700 River Road, Unit 97
Riverdale, MD 20737
chester.a.gipson@usda.gov

Mr. Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20250

FOIA: Freedom of Information Act

To obtain information about USDA investigations or enforcement documents, one must send a data request to the FOIA Officer through the Freedom of Information Act.

Link: FOIA Requests

Address: United States Department of Agriculture - APHIS

Attn: Freedom of Information Act Officer

4700 River Road Unit 50

Riverdale, MD  20737-1232

Phone 301-734-8296