Lehigh Valley Animal Rights Coalition

Help Stop Pets From Being Taken By Animal Dealers And SOLD TO LABORATORIES

The Federal Animal Welfare Act

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) was enacted in 1966 to protect animals from inhumane treatment and address the serious problems associated with animal dealers, including pet theft. Individuals who collect animals from random sources and sell them to research facilities are licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as Class B dealers.

The USDA is charged with enforcing the AWA. The law includes the requirement that dogs and cats sold by dealers to registered research facilities must be provided with adequate care including: appropriate housing, handling, nutrition, water, veterinary care and shelter from adverse weather conditions. It also requires the dealer to keep complete records on the origin and destination of the animals, in addition to other vital information.

Random Source (Class B) Dealers:

• have acquired stolen or fraudulently obtained dogs and cats and sold them to research facilities;
• often launder animals by moving them repeatedly across state lines, and by transferring them from dealer to dealer, making it virtually impossible for pet owners to find their missing animals;
• routinely violate the law by failing to maintain accurate records of the source of dogs and cats they supply to research facilities; and
• typically fail to meet even the minimum requirements of the Animal welfare Act.

USDA licensed Class B dealers profit from the sale of dogs and cats despite appalling alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Following are a few examples:

• One former dealer was convicted of selling more than 1,600 dogs and cats to research facilities without proper records identifying the sources of the animals.
• Another dealer falsely reported acquiring 357 dogs from a pound that USDA investigators discovered was nonexistent. This same dealer was found to have destroyed dogs by gunshot in violation of USDA regulations. She is still in business selling dogs to research facilities.
• Dogs and cats on another dealer's premises have been found suffering from lameness, severe dehydration, emaciation, bloody injuries, severe nasal and ocular discharges, and respiratory problems. Although USDA fined him for violating the Animal Welfare Act, his license was not revoked and he is still in business.

There are only about 40 licensed Class B dealers supplying dogs and cats for research purposes. Many of these dealers are under investigation or have cases pending against them by USDA for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act; Prohibiting random source (Class B) dealers from selling dogs and cats to research facilities is the only responsible thing to do.

One of the worst nightmares for anyone who has companion animals is the fear that the animal could be taken by a dealer and sold to a laboratory. This is a real threat and it must be stopped.

Please write your Congressional Representative;

urging him or her to cosponsor the pet safety and Protection Act (H.R. 594) and to request hearings in the House Agriculture Committee. Hon. Bob Smith (R-OR) is Chairman of the full Committee, and Hon. Richard Pombo (R-CA) is Chairman of the Livestock, Dairy and poultry Subcommittee to which the bill has been referred.

Representatives may be addressed at:

House Office building,

Washington, DC 20515

Even more information on stolen pets!