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VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE >
USA TODAY
By: Mandy Sleight & Kara McGinley
Published: Jan 10, 2024

Animal abuse statistics and facts at a glance

Sadly, it's estimated that approximately one animal faces abuse every minute somewhere in the U.S. Below, you'll find more disheartening animal abuse facts and statistics.

An estimated 10,000 puppy mills exist in the country, with Missouri - for the 11th consecutive year - having the most and highest number of abusive mills.

How many animals are abused each year?

We'll never know exactly how many animals get abused each year because not all cruelty cases get reported. However, here are some facts that we do know:

Globally, at least one animal is abused every 60 seconds.

Laboratories across the country abuse and kill over 110 million animals each year for experiments, including chemical, cosmetic, food and drug testing.

Lack of food, water and shelter, too tight collar, matting, open sores, mange and signs of starvation are clear signs that an animal is being neglected.

How many animals die from animal abuse?

It's estimated that 10 million animals die from abuse each year in the United States alone. That includes companion animals, farm animals, wild animals and animal testing victims. This staggering fact means that less than 0.01% of cases of animal abuse are reported annually, making it difficult to get an exact estimation of how many animals die from abuse.

Animal abuse by state

Anti-cruelty laws can vary by state, and even by city or county within the same state. So can the legal definition of what's considered appropriate living conditions, abuse and neglect.

Thankfully, every state has felony provisions within its animal cruelty laws. All states, except Iowa, issue felony-level penalties for the first offense of animal torture.

Here are the top five best and worst states for animal protection laws.
Top 5 states for animal protection laws: Worst 5 states for animal protection laws:
Animal abuse in zoos statistics

Visiting a zoo is a great way to see wild, rare and exotic animals without having to travel to their natural habitat. Unfortunately, zoo animals sometimes aren't suitable for a wild animal's needs.

There are only about 2,800 animal exhibitors in the U.S. that have United States Department of Agriculture licenses.

Fewer than 10% of the 2,800 animal exhibitors are accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Accreditation means the facility has met rigorous standards for animal care and quality of life.

More tigers are held in captivity in the United States (in zoos, as captive pets or for other entertainment purposes) than are in the wild.

Circus animal abuse statistics

Animal neglect and abuse is known to occur in circuses, as trainers or circus workers may abuse the wild animals to get them to act in unnatural ways.

Wild circus animals can spend up to 11 months out of the year in transit, locked in cages or shackled in chains.

Adult elephants can spend between 16 and 23 hours per day chained to concrete floors - even while giving birth. The babies are taken from their mothers and subjected to the same treatment to break their spirit, often with obvious wounds visible from trying to escape.

Since 1990, 126 big cat circus performers have died in captivity. Electric prods, bullhooks, whip sticks, shock collars, food deprivation and starvation are just a few of the tools trainers use to force animals to perform for humans.

A research investigation by animal rights advocates Animal Defenders International found that bears in various circuses are forced to spend 90% of their day in a trailer, locked in a tiny cage. They average just 10 minutes on weekdays and 20 minutes on weekends outside their cells.

Although many countries have banned animals in circuses, the United States has yet to. The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act - which would ban animal use in circuses in the U.S. - has yet to pass federally.
Here's some good news about circus animals:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey have performed animal-based circus shows for over 150 years. However, sales dropped significantly in the 2010s, partially due to animal abuse allegations. The pandemic shuttered the circus but Ringling Bros. and Barnus & Bailey reopened in the fall of 2023 as an animal-free operation.

Animal shelter statistics

There are around 4,000 brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the United States. Although intake has increased for some animals, animal transfers have decreased from 2022 to 2023. Here are some animal shelter facts and statistics to consider:

Around 6.3 million companion animals enter shelters each year around the country.

3.2 million in shelters are cats, while 3.1 million are dogs.

About 50% of U.S. shelters are no-kill.

An estimated 4.1 million pets are adopted from shelters each year.

Although owner surrenders for dogs decreased by 4%, stray intakes increased by 5% from the last quarter of 2022 to the last quarter of 2023.

Non-live outcomes (euthanized, died or lost in care) have increased by 30.9% for dogs in 2023 from 2022, while cat non-live outcomes have increased by 8.4% over the same period.

How many dogs are euthanized each year?

Around 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized annually and 390,000 of those are dogs. Animal shelter euthanasia statistics show approximately 13% of dogs who enter shelters are euthanized, while 65% are adopted.

Animal shelter statistics by state

Shelter animal intake and euthanasia statistics can vary widely by state and territory. Here are some U.S. animal shelter statistics by state:

Mississippi has the highest animal kill rate in shelters at around 18%.

New Hampshire and Delaware are the only no-kill states.

Five states - California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas - are responsible for 44% of shelter animal euthanasia annually.

Only 24 states ban gas chambers as a euthanasia method, despite the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) declaring lethal injection as the only humane euthanasia method.

Pet adoption statistics

Pet adoption numbers have remained consistent since 2021, with almost 60% of shelter animals finding a home. Here are some more pet adoption facts and statistics.

Nearly 70% of cats in shelters from July to Sept. 2023 were adopted.

Nearly 54% of dogs in shelters from July to Sept. 2023 were adopted.

Adoptions increased by 5.8% in Jan. to Sept. 2023 versus the same period in 2021.

What is animal cruelty?

The definition of animal cruelty can differ by state, as can the prohibited actions and which animals receive legal protections. Anti-cruelty statutes typically only include companion domestic animals, though some state laws prevent "thrill killing" of wild animals. There may be different rules around livestock and hunting.

Types of animal cruelty

There are three main types of animal cruelty.

Neglect is the most common type of animal cruelty. This is when an owner doesn't provide necessary shelter, food, water and veterinary care for the animal or pet. The most visible sign of neglect is keeping an animal in a cage or having them tethered to a stationary object that restricts its movement for most hours of the day or full-time.

Hoarding is a severe type of neglect and cruelty. This occurs when an owner hoards many animals, creating overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Hoarding leads to unsafe shelter and health conditions for the pet. It can lead to sickness, injury, starvation and death.

Physical abuse is an intentional act that causes pain, suffering or death. Physical abuse can take many forms, including dragging, kicking, choking, burning, suffocating, mutilating, beating, stabbing and throwing. Sexual abuse can also occur, which includes lacerations, ligature, injury or severe distress to the animal's genitals.

Warning signs of animal cruelty

Although specialized, formal training is desired, law enforcement, community members and animal control officers can identify cruelty and animal abuse cases by signs such as:

Collar or harness embedded in the animal's flesh.

Cruelly confining the animal on a short tether, in a hot car or small cage.

Inappropriate or cruel training methods, such as hitting, suspending the legs off the floor as punishment, forcing the animal to run next to a car, throwing it in water or weighing it down.

Insufficient ventilation, space or lighting for the number of animals in the home.

Lack of sanitation, including no access to clean food or water and feces or urine inside the home.

Lack of veterinary care when injured, diseased or dying.

No proper shelter in extreme weather.

Poor physical condition or obvious signs of trauma, such as open sores, excessively dirty, foul smelling, emaciated or skinny, severely matted fur, excessive head scratching or shaking.

What is the punishment for animal cruelty?

The penalty for animal cruelty depends on the state in which the crime occurs. People convicted of animal cruelty as a first offense can face fines and jail time. They may also be required to undergo psychological treatment.

Pet insurance for rescue dogs

Pet insurance is a great way to pay for costly veterinary care when your rescue dog gets sick or injured. The best pet insurance for rescue dogs depends on their age, breed, and health status.

Pet insurance accident and illness plans can reimburse you for some of the following:

Broken bones or fractures.

Cancer and other diseases.

Cuts and wounds.

Gastrointestinal issues.

Hospitalization.

Illnesses.

Infectious disease.

Ingesting foreign objects.

Lab testing and diagnostics.

Poisoning.

Some allergies.

Some prescriptions.

Surgery.

If your rescue dog has previous injuries or diseases, you may not be able to get reimbursed for it through pet insurance, as many pet insurance companies exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions.

If you purchase a wellness plan add-on to your pet insurance, it can cover the important following needs for your rescue dog.

Blood and urine testing and analysis.

Check-ups.

Dental exams.

Flea, tick and heartworm medications.

Microchipping.

Spay or neuter surgery.

Vaccinations.

Comparing pet insurance quotes can help you determine which pet insurance company is the right choice for your rescue pet.

How to report animal abuse

Reporting animal abuse is the best way to prevent further suffering for animals facing cruelty. Learning how to report animal abuse anonymously online or by other methods can keep you safe while protecting the animal. However, having a credible witness that is willing to stand behind the report and potentially testify in court means the case is more likely to be investigated.

Take these steps to report someone for animal abuse:

Document specific information. This includes things like dates, times, details, photographs or other evidence of the abuse so you can provide the correct information when reporting the abuse. Documentation can also help the appropriate authorities with their investigation, increasing the chances of the abuser being punished.

If you witness animal abuse, call your local animal control agency or dial 911. You can also contact the Humane Society if your community isn't equipped to handle animal or pet abuse cases or if local organizations aren't available. Making a report for alleged animal cruelty requires the responding agency to investigate.

Follow up if necessary. Try to learn if action has been taken and learn about the investigation progress. If you are sure no action is being taken, it may be worth contacting a supervisor or your local or state government official to discuss next steps.

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Animal abuse facts and statistics 2024 - Shelter Animals Count

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VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE > USA TODAY By: Mandy Sleight & Kara McGinley Published: Jan 10, 2024 Animal abuse statistics and facts at a glance Sadly, it's estimated that [...]

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Best Friends Animal Society - Save Them All

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Understanding what's happening in our animal shelters - including how many shelters there are in the country, how many animals they take in, and how many they save - helps us figure out the best way we can work together to save more lives.

This data about shelters allows us to see where pets are most in need and where we should focus our efforts to save lives. With this information - and with the help of caring people like you - we can save the lives of homeless dogs and cats.

To explain that data, we've broken down the findings into key takeaways.

Dogs and cats are needlessly killed in shelters every day

But together, we can save the lives of healthy and treatable pets in shelters who are often killed simply due to a lack of space.

We call this goal "no-kill," and collecting data across the nation is a big part of achieving it. To reach no-kill, a shelter needs to save at least 90% of the animals it takes in. We call this percentage a save rate.

Typically, no more than 10% of animals a shelter takes in can't be saved because they have irreparable medical or behavioral issues that compromise their quality of life. That's how we arrived at the 90% benchmark.

Each day in 2023 across the United States, 13,000 animals entered shelters, and 83% of them were saved.

To reach our goal of achieving no-kill nationwide, we would have needed to save 415,000 more dogs and cats last year. Roughly 7 million households are planning to add a pet to their family this year.

If just 6% more people chose to adopt versus purchase their pets, we would end the killing of dogs and cats in our nation's shelters.

Communities want to be no-kill

In communities all around the country, most residents want to stop the needless killing of animals in shelters.

According to our data, communities want homeless pets to leave shelters alive:

80% of people feel it is very important or essential to have no-kill shelters in their area.

74% of people are more likely to support a shelter working toward becoming no-kill.

51% of people would donate to a local shelter or rescue group to ensure shelters become no-kill.

And we know it's possible. In fact, in 2023, three states (Delaware, New Hampshire, and Vermont) maintained their no-kill status, and one new state (Rhode Island) became no-kill. An additional four states (North Dakota, Montana, Connecticut, and Maine) were within 200 animals of being no-kill.

62% of the shelters across the U.S. were already no-kill in 2023, and that list continues to grow. But there's still much more work to do to get the entire country to no-kill in 2025. Save rates vary depending on where you live, so it's important to check to see how your community is doing.

How do animals end up in our communities' shelters in the first place?

In 2023, 4.8 million homeless dogs and cats end up in shelters in communities all over the United States.

Some lost and stray animals are brought into shelters by people trying to help or by animal services officers. Some are given up by their families for financial reasons or a lack of pet-inclusive housing. And some come in from other shelters in hopes that they will have a better chance of being adopted at a different location.

The number of homeless pets coming into a shelter is called intake, and knowing a shelter's intake pattern is important to understand how to help it with lifesaving. The data has shown us that for many shelters, adoptions have stalled while intake has increased. In 2019, 2.6 million pets were adopted from shelters; in 2023, 2.3 million pets were adopted from shelters. That's a 13.2% decrease.

There's not enough space for the homeless pets who need it most, especially among some of the most vulnerable animals entering shelters: kittens who require round-the-clock care, big dogs who are less likely to be adopted because of pet-restrictive housing and insurance policies, and cats who prefer to live outdoors (we call them community cats) who often don't leave shelters alive because they're not used to being around people.

Once pets end up in shelters, our goal is to ensure they make it out safely

While it would be ideal if pets didn't end up in shelters in the first place, once they're there, our main goal is to find them safe places to call home.

In 2016, when Best Friends made the bold goal to lead the country to no-kill in 2025, 71% of homeless dogs and cats were making it out of America's shelters alive. Since then, that number has increased to 83%. Increasing the national save rate from 71% to 83% since 2016 means that an extra 3.7 million cats and dogs have been saved in just eight years.

In 2023, 1.2 million cats and 1.1 million dogs were adopted from shelters. The number of cats being adopted from shelters is down 5.9% since 2019, and the number of dogs being adopted from shelters is down 16.8% since 2019.

We can help even more pets find homes in 2024 and beyond when we let people know the lifesaving impact they can have when they adopt a pet from a shelter - instead of buying a dog or cat from a breeder, online retailer, or pet store.

We can also make sure more pets leave shelters safely through fostering and giving them lifts to places where they're more likely to be adopted. When pets are fostered in a home - even for a night or two - that frees up space in the shelter. And when they're taken to other shelters or areas of the country where they're more likely to be adopted, that saves even more lives.

As for community cats (the cats we mentioned earlier who prefer to live outdoors), many are unlikely to be adopted, which puts them at risk of being killed in a shelter. Housing these cats also diverts resources from caring for other pets and finding them homes. Community cats can live happy, long lives when they're returned to their outdoor homes. That's why we need our communities to allow trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) programs that prevent cats from reproducing.

Together, we can help animal shelters around the country save more lives

Best Friends is working together with shelters and rescue groups to save the lives of dogs and cats who end up in their care. We call them our network partners, and they're in communities all across the country.

Best Friends is committed to supporting lifesaving in shelters, and we see the challenges firsthand. We work with over 4,900 network partners, providing direct support through training, grants, hands-on help, and other programmatic support as needed. Our network partners have a save rate of 84% compared to shelters that are not network partners, which have a save rate of 79%.

Well-supported staff are crucial for effective animal sheltering in a community. Working in a shelter is not easy. It can take a toll, so we've also worked with shelter employees across the United States to understand how their work affects their mental health.

Animal shelter staff experience burnout and compassion fatigue at levels comparable to - or even exceeding - first responders like firefighters, police officers, and nurses. Burnout reduces the likelihood of shelter staff staying in their roles, according to original research conducted by Best Friends.

Our communities can support shelter staff when we volunteer and foster to help alleviate their burden. Donations also make it possible to provide the staffing resources needed to keep both people and pets safe in our animal shelters.

NetworkPartners/FindaNetworkPartner

Find a network partner near you today

Each of our network partners needs caring people like you to adopt, foster, donate, volunteer, and advocate to help save the lives of pets where you live.

How is your community doing?

Animal shelters, local stakeholders, lifesaving groups, and individual community members are working together to save at-risk pets right where they live.

The most accurate dataset of animal sheltering in the U.S.

To determine where shelters need the most help, we're using data to inform our decisions and looking for new ways to use what we find. Each year, we collect this data and share the dataset publicly in something we call the national dataset.

To collect the data in the 2023 national dataset, Best Friends conducted extensive research to explore and determine which shelter and community characteristics impact a shelter's intake and live outcomes. All data and analysis prepared for the 2023 national dataset were done by Best Friends Animal Society.

Data was collected via an online data-sharing platform, Shelter Pet Data Alliance, as well as directly from shelter websites, forms completed by shelters, files provided by state governing bodies, and through Freedom of Information Act requests.

This information is used to track the effectiveness of our direct lifesaving efforts, such as foster and community cat programs, and it helps us plan future strategies.

While we were able to capture a robust and representative sample of shelters for 2023, some of the nearly 4,000 shelters in the U.S. had not yet provided data. For those, we used advanced statistical methods that took 30 factors into consideration to estimate 2023 data, including 2022 or older data from nearly 2,000 shelters.

The data for individual communities and shelters around the country can be found on the pet lifesaving dashboard and is updated monthly.

About Best Friends

Best Friends Animal Society is working to save the lives of cats and dogs all across the country, giving pets second chances and happy homes.

As recently as 2016, 2 million cats and dogs were killed in shelters in this country simply because shelters didn't have the community support or the resources to save their lives. That number is now down to 415,000 per year, but there's still work to do to ensure a bright future for every dog and cat in America.

Best Friends operates the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals and is committed to saving the lives of homeless pets by working with shelters and passionate people like you. We're sharing our resources and what we know to help shelters around the country achieve no-kill in their communities.

Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill in 2025.

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Here's what's happening in animal shelters across the U.S.

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A dog or cat is killed in America's shelters every 90 seconds, simply because they don't have a safe place to call home.

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How many pets are in the United States? How many animals are in shelters?

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✉Address all correspondence to Dr. Patricia V. Turner; e-mail: pturneruoguelph.ca

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Animal shelters and animal welfare: Raising the bar

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Overcrowding in shelters impacts an animal's health—the inability to keep an environment clean increases the risk of diseases.

Overcrowding makes it harder to work with an animal closely, resulting in behavioral problems.

Overcrowding increases the need for euthanization, despite an animal being healthy.

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Cases of animals being force-fed.

Cases of animals' semen being taken forcibly.

The illegal aspect of many animal experiment cases.

Cases of animals given injections.

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In the first 14 months of the pandemic, nearly one in five American households adopted a cat or dog. But as COVID precautions shift and inflation takes its toll on the economy, many of those pets are going back into shelters - creating a crisis of capacity. Four percent more animals entered shelters than left last year - and animals are sitting in shelters for longer now than at any time in the past four years, according to Shelter Animals Count, a national database for shelter animals.

Compounding that concern is that 88 percent of shelters have reported being short on staff during the pandemic, according to a survey from Best Friends Animal Society. Meanwhile, in January of last year, there were nearly 60,000 more dogs and 40,000 more cats available for adoption than at the same time the previous year..

To get animals into homes, shelters have lowered adoption fees and are offering resources to current owners whose finances might make them unable to keep their pets.

Lisa LaFontaine, CEO of the Humane Rescue Alliance, said the organization's program "Treat to Return" helped 642 pets in the Washington, D.C., area stay with their owners last year by paying to treat minor medical issues the owners otherwise couldn't afford. She said rising costs have put pet owners in a tough spot.

"We've started to do things like give out free pet food," LaFontaine said. "Last year, we gave out nearly 400,000 pet meals so that people didn't have to worry about food if they were struggling."

The price of pet products was up nearly 12 percent last November compared to the same time in 2021, with the price of pet food up more than 15 percent, according to Labor Department numbers.

"There's no question that pet ownership is getting more and more expensive and some folks on the lower end of the income spectrum are just going to get priced out," Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, told NewsHour.

What's more, pet services - including veterinary costs - have ticked up more than 9 percent in the last year, according to Labor Department data. As inflation affects all aspects of the economy, it has also forced some families to make tough decisions to keep their households afloat. According to a 2022 Forbes survey, 42 percent of pet owners said a vet bill of $999 or less would cause them to go into debt, and 44 percent said they used their credit card to pay for a vet bill.

Linda Wallace, an associate veterinarian at Gold Country Veterinary Hospital in Auburn, California, has seen costs increase for her clients.

"We've got increased costs of doing business because our supplies are costing more. Our power costs more. Keeping the lights on is a more expensive process, so we have to keep up with that in our prices, which can be very frustrating to our clients," Wallace told NewsHour. "Sometimes the care we're recommending is beyond what the budget can hold, and that's very challenging."

Wallace is a board member of The Pet Fund, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance to pet owners for treatments for their furry companions like chemotherapy and different chronic medical conditions. Every year, they get thousands more requests than they have the funds for.

"It was tough during the pandemic," Wallace said. "Charitable donations dropped as people were unsure about what was going to happen with their finances."

A lack of funding is common for animal welfare organizations across the country. But those in less populated areas are hit hardest.

The Humane Society of Northern Virginia, an hour outside Washington has seen an uptick in calls from owners struggling to care for their pets. Director Sherry Turner said that while volunteers have stepped in to foster animals, there aren't enough adopters, and she doesn't have the space to take in every pet in need.

"We'll never just say no; we'll do everything and anything we can do to talk people through maybe an issue that they might be having with their pet so that the pet can stay home," she told the NewsHour.

That includes helping cover the cost of things like medical care, pet food and even grooming.

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, located in Arlington, Virginia, has no shelter. The amount of animals it can rescue at any given time depends on the number of foster volunteers.

"We really like to see more fosters stepping up because that can let us help more shelters that are suffering from these problems of over-intake and not enough animals getting out," Mirah Horowitz, founder and executive director of Lucky Dog, told NewsHour. "It's a supply chain issue at its heart. How do we move these animals from shelters where there are too many animals, there isn't enough spay and neuter, and there's not enough local adoptions to places that are desperate for animals?"

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Why economic hardship is keeping more animals in shelters

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In the first 14 months of the pandemic, nearly one in five American households adopted a cat or dog. But as COVID precautions shift and inflation takes its toll on the economy, many of those pets are going back into shelters - creating a crisis of capacity.

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Recognizing Signs of Infectious Disease in Animal Shelters

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Looking for a quick guide to the most common infections in a shelter setting? This helpful print-and-post reference comes complete with photos of disease symptoms.

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FOUR PAWS in US - Global Animal Protection Organization

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Information about the animals' housing conditions and upbringing are not presented truthfully.

In the mass breeding business, dogs are generally not housed or treated in a manner adequate to their needs. When transported for sale, puppies bred on illegal farms are likely to travel hundreds of miles for several days. During this time, they are kept in horrendous conditions and may be suffering from medical conditions.
Unfortunately, some won't survive the journey.
A certain level of illness and death is expected, and even calculated for, in this cold-hearted business. The puppies can end up anywhere in Europe, especially in the UK, to be sold on as cheap 'homebred,' pedigree dogs.

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Information about the animals' housing conditions and upbringing are not presented truthfully. In the mass breeding business, dogs are generally not housed or treated in a manner adequate to their needs. When transported for sale, puppies bred on illegal farms are likely to travel hundreds of miles for several days.

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Tax Dollars Pay For Saving or Killing Shelter Dogs - Who Will Let the Dogs Out

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If they aren’t working, he and his wife Jackie are rescuing; it’s their life, Billy explained to me on our second visit to Scott County this past February. Jackie added, “We have no social life. Everything is the dogs.” And… Read more ›

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The requirements of the Animal Welfare Act are set forth under the Regulations and Standards in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). These requirements are found in Title 9 CFR, Chapter 1, Subchapter A - Animal Welfare, Parts 1, 2, and 3. The requirements for reports, notifications, certifications, and record keeping are set forth in Part 2 of 9 CFR (2022) and are indicated below. Section numbers are provided for reference.
Subpart C--Research Facilities
Section 2.30 Registration.

(a) Requirements and procedures.

(1) Each research facility, other than a Federal research facility, shall register with the Secretary by completing and filing a properly executed form, which will be furnished upon request, by the AC Regional Director for the State in which the research facility has its principal place of business, and shall be updated every 3 years by the completion and filing of a new registration form.

(c) Notification of Change of Operation.

(1) "A research facility shall notify the AC Regional Director by certified mail of any change in the name, address, or ownership, or other change in operations affecting its status as a research facility, within 10 days after making such change."

From Subchapter A--Animal Welfare, 9 C.F.R. § 2.1 et. seq. (2021). Dealers and Exhibitors Section 2.1 Requirements and application. Section 2.2 Acknowledgement of regulations and standards.

The applicant is to acknowledge receipt of the regulations and standards and agree to comply with them by signing the application form or the license will not be issued or renewed. (Sect. 2.2).

Section 2.5 Duration of license and termination of license.

(b) Any person who is licensed must file an application for a license renewal and an annual report form and pay the required fees, on or before the expiration date of the present license or the license will automatically terminate on its anniversary date. (Sect.2.5 (b)).

Section 2.7 Annual report by licensees.

(a) "Each year, within 30 days prior to the expiration date of his or her license, a licensee shall file with the AC Regional Director an application for license renewal and annual report upon a form which the AC Regional Director will furnish him or her upon request." (Sect. 2.7 (a)).

Section 2.8 Notification of change of name, address, control, or ownership of business.

"A licensee shall promptly notify the AC Regional Director by certified mail of any change in name, address, management, or substantial control or ownership of his business operation, or of any additional sites, within 10 days of any change." (Sect. 2.8).

Subpart D - Attending Veterinarian and Adequate Veterinary Care. Section 2.40 Attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, dealers and exhibitors.

(a) Each dealer or exhibitor shall have an attending veterinarian who shall provide adequate veterinary care to its animals in compliance with this section.

(1) "Each dealer and exhibitor shall employ an attending veterinarian under formal arrangements. In the case of a part-time attending veterinarian or consultant arrangements, the formal arrangements shall include a written program of veterinary care and regularly scheduled visits to the premises of the dealer or exhibitor;...". (Sect.2.40 (a)(1)).

(3) Daily observation of all animals is required to assess their health and well-being. A mechanism of direct and frequent communication is also required so that timely and accurate information on problems of animal health, behavior, and well-being is conveyed to the attending veterinarian. (Sect.2.40 (a)(3)).

Subpart E - Identification of Animals. Section 2.50 Time and method of identification of animals.

(a) A class "A" dealer (breeder) shall identify all live dogs and cats as indicated in section 2.50 (a).

(b) A class "B" dealer shall identify all live dogs and cats as indicated in section 2.50 (b).

(c) A class "C" exhibitor shall identify live dogs and cats as indicated in section 2.50 (c).

(e) All animals, except dogs and cats, shall be identified as indicated in section 2.50 (e) by each dealer or exhibitor.

Section 2.75 Records: Dealers and exhibitors.

(a) (1) Each dealer and exhibitor, except auction sales and brokers, shall make and maintain records or forms that correctly disclose the information required in section 2.75 (a) for each dog or cat acquired, held, transported, or disposed of. On e copy of the record must accompany each shipment of any dog or cat. (Sect.2.75 (a)(1)-(4)).

(b) (1) Every dealer and exhibitor, except auction sales and brokers, shall make and maintain records or forms for animals other than dogs and cats, acquired, held, transported, or disposed of, as required in section 2.75 (b)(1)-(3). One copy of the record must accompany each animal shipment. (Sect.2.75 (a) (b)).

Section 2.76 Records: Operators of auction sales and brokers.

(a) Every auction sale or broker shall make and maintain records or forms, as required by section 2.76, for each animal consigned or sold. (Sect.2.76 (a)(1)-(8)).

(b) One copy of the record shall be given to the consignor of each animal, one copy to the purchaser of each animal, and one copy shall be retained by the auction sale or broker. (Sect.2.76 (b)).

Section 2.78 Health certification and identification.

(a) No dealer, exhibitor, operator of an auction sale, broker, or department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or any State or local government shall deliver to an intermediate handler or carrier for transport, or shall transport, in commerce, any dog, cat, or nonhuman primate unless such animal is accompanied by a health certificate executed and issued by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with the requirements of section 2.78. (Sect.2.78 (a)-(d)).

Section 2.80 Records, disposition.

(a) "No dealer, exhibitor, broker, operator of an auction sale, carrier, or intermediate handler shall, for a period of one year, destroy or dispose of, without consent in writing of the Administrator, any books, records, documents, or other paper s required to be kept and maintained under this part." (Sect.2.80 (a)).

(b) Unless otherwise specified, the records required to be kept and maintained under this part shall be held for one year after an animal is euthanized or disposed of and for any period in excess of one year as necessary to comply with any applicable Federal, State, or local law. If the Administrator notifies a facility that specified records are to be retained pending an investigation or proceeding, the facility shall hold those records until their disposition is authorized by the Administrator. (Sect.2.80 (b)).

Subpart H - Compliance With Standards and Holding Period. Section 2.102 Holding facility.

(a) "If any dealer or exhibitor obtains prior approval of the AC Regional Director, he may arrange to have another person hold animals for the required period provided for in paragraph (a) of section 2.101: Provided, That:" (Sect.2.102 (a)).

(1) "The other person agrees in writing to comply with the regulations in part 2 and the standards in part 3 of this subchapter and allow inspection of his premises by an APHIS official during business hours; and" (Sect.2.102 (a)(1)).

(2) The animals remain under the total control and responsibility of the dealer or exhibitor. (Sect.2.102 (a)(2)).

Subpart I - Miscellaneous. Section 2.125 Information as to business.

Each dealer and exhibitor shall furnish any APHIS official any information concerning the business that the APHIS official may request in connection with the enforcement of the Act, regulations and standards. (Sect.2.125).

Section 2.126 Access and inspection of records and property.

(a) Each dealer and exhibitor, shall, during business hours, allow APHIS officials:

(1) To enter its place of business. (Sect.2.126 (a)(1)).

(2) To examine records required to be kept by the Act and the regulations. (Sect.2.126 (a)(2)).

(3) To make copies of the records. (Sect.2.126 (a)(3)).

(4) To inspect and photograph the facilities, property and animals, as the APHIS officials consider necessary to enforce the Act, regulations and standards. (Sect.2.126 (a)(4)).

(5) To document, by the taking of photographs and other means, conditions and areas of noncompliance. (Sect.2.126 (a)(5)).

Section 2.132 Procurement of random source dogs and cats, dealers.

(e) Any dealer or exhibitor who also operates a private or contract animal pound or shelter shall comply with the following: (Sect.2.132 (e)).

(2) Accurate and complete records are to be separately maintained by the licensee and by the pound or shelter. The records shall be in accordance with sections 2.75 and 2.76 unless the animals are lost or stray. If lost or stray, the pound or shelter records shall provide the information required in section 2.132 (e)(2)(i)-(iv). (Sect.2.132 (e)(2))

Section 2.133 Certification for random source dogs and cats.

(b) A dealer shall not sell, provide, or make available to any person a live random source dog or cat unless the dealer provides the recipient of the dog or cat with certification that contains the information set forth in section 2.133 (b)(1)-(6) . (Sect. 2.133 (b)).

(c) "The original certification required under paragraph (b) of this section shall accompany the shipment of a live dog or cat...." (2.133 (c)).

(d) "A dealer who acquires a live dog or cat from another dealer must obtain from that dealer the certification required by paragraph (b) of this section and must attach that certification (including any previously attached certification) to the certification which he or she provides pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section (a photocopy of the original certification will be deemed a duplicate original if the dealer does not dispose of all the dogs or cats in a single transaction)." (Sect. 2.133 (d)).

(e) "A dealer who completes, provides, or receives a certification required under paragraph (b) of this section shall keep, maintain, and make available for APHIS inspection a copy of the certification for at least 1 year following disposition." (Sect.2.133 (e)).

Part 3 - Standards Section 3.8 Exercise for dogs.

Dealers and exhibitors must develop, document, and follow an appropriate plan to provide dogs with the opportunity for exercise. In addition, the plan must be approved by the attending veterinarian. The plan must include written standard procedure s to be followed in providing the opportunity for exercise. The plan must be made available to APHIS upon request. The plan, at a minimum, must comply with the conditions and requirements set forth in section 3.8 (a) (b) and (c). (Sect.3.8).

(d) Exemptions.

(1) If, in the opinion of the attending veterinarian, it is inappropriate for certain dogs to exercise because of their health, condition, or well-being, the dealer or exhibitor may be exempted from meeting the requirements of this section for those dogs. Such exemption must be documented by the attending veterinarian and, unless the basis for the exemption is a permanent condition, must be reviewed at least every 30 days by the attending veterinarian. (Sect.3.8 (d)(1)).

(3) Records of any exemptions must be maintained and made available to USDA officials upon request. (Sect. 3.8. (d)(3)).

Section 3.13 Consignment to carriers and intermediate handlers. Section 3.14 Primary enclosures used to transport live dogs and cats. Section 3.16 Food and water requirements.

(b) Any dealer, research facility or exhibitor offering any dog or cat to a carrier or intermediate handler for transportation must securely attach to the outside of the primary enclosure used for transporting the dog or cat, written instructions for the in-transit food and water requirements for a 24 hour period for the dogs and cats contained in the enclosure. The instructions must be attached in a manner that makes them easily noticed and read. (Sect. 3.16 (b)).

Subpart B - Guinea Pigs and Hamsters. Section 3.27 Facilities, outdoor.

(a) Hamsters shall not be housed in outdoor facilities.

(b) "Guinea pigs shall not be housed in outdoor facilities unless such facilities are located in an appropriate climate and prior approval for such outdoor housing is obtained from the Deputy Administrator." (Sect. 3.27 (b)).

Section 3.35 Consignment to carriers and intermediate handlers.

(c) Carriers and intermediate handlers whose facilities fail to meet the minimum temperature requirements may accept live hamsters for transportation if the consignor furnishes a certificate executed by a veterinarian, no more than 10 days prior to delivery for transport, stating that such live hamster is acclimated to air temperatures lower than those prescribed in sections 3.40 and 3.41. A copy of such certificate shall accompany the shipment to its destination and shall contain the information required in section 3.35 (c)(1)-(4). (Sect. 3.35 (c)).

Section 3.36 Primary enclosures used to transport live guinea pigs and hamsters. Section 3.60 Consignments to carriers and intermediate handlers.

(b) Any carrier or intermediate handler shall only accept for transportation or transport, in commerce, any live rabbit in a primary enclosure which conforms to the requirements set forth in section 3.6l of the standards: Provided, however, That any carrier or intermediate handler may accept....any live rabbit....if such consignor furnishes to the carrier or intermediate handler a certificate, signed by the consignor, stating that the primary enclosure complies with section 3.61 of the standard, unless such primary enclosure is obviously defective or damaged and it is apparent that it cannot, reasonably be expected to contain the live rabbit without causing suffering or injury to such live rabbit. A copy of such certificate shall accompany the shipment to destination. The certificate shall include the information required in section 3.60 (b)(1)-(4). (Sect. 3.60 (b)).

(c) Carriers or intermediate handlers whose facilities fail to meet the minimum temperatures allowed by the standards may accept....any live rabbit....if the consignor furnishes to the carrier or intermediate handler a certificate executed by a veterinarian....on a specified date which shall not be more than 10 days prior to delivery of such rabbit for transportation....stating that such live rabbit is acclimated to air temperatures lower than those prescribed in sections 3.65 and 3.66. A copy of such certificate shall accompany the shipment to destination. The certificate shall include the information required in section 3.60 (c)(1)-(4). (Sect. 3.60 (c)).

Section 3.61 Primary enclosures used to transport live rabbits. Subpart D - Nonhuman Primates. Section 3.81 Environment enhancement to promote psychological well-being.

Dealers and exhibitors must develop, document, and follow an appropriate plan for environment enhancement adequate to promote the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates. The plan must be in accordance with the currently accepted professional standards as cited in appropriate professional journals or reference guides, and as directed by the attending veterinarian. This plan must be made available to APHIS upon request....The plan must address the requirements set forth in section 3.81 (a)(b) (c) and (d). (Sect. 3.81).

(e) Exceptions.

(1) "The attending veterinarian may exempt an individual nonhuman primate from participation in the environment enhancement plan because of its health or condition, or in consideration of its well-being. The basis for exemption must be recorded by the attending veterinarian for each exempted nonhuman primate. Unless the basis for exemption is a permanent condition, the exemption must be reviewed at least every 30 days by the attending veterinarian." (Sect. 3.81 (e)).

(3) Records of any exemptions must be maintained by the dealer or exhibitor and must be made available to USDA officials upon request. (Sect.3.81 (e)(3)).

Section 3.86 Consignment to carriers and intermediate handlers. Section 3.87 Primary enclosure used to transport nonhuman primates. Section 3.89 Food and water requirements.

(a) ".... Consignors who are subject to Animal Welfare regulations (9 CFR parts 1, 2 and 3) must certify that each nonhuman primate was offered food and potable water within the 4 hours preceding delivery of the nonhuman primate to a carrier or intermediate handler for transportation in commerce, and must certify the date and time the food and potable water was offered, in accordance section 3.86 (c) of this subpart." (Sect. 3.89 (a)).

(b) Any dealer or exhibitor offering a nonhuman primate to a carrier or intermediate handler for transportation in commerce must securely attach to the outside of the primary enclosure used for transporting the nonhuman primate, written instructions for a 24 hour period for the in-transit food and water requirements of the nonhuman primate(s) contained in the enclosure. The instructions must be attached in a manner that makes them easily noticed and read. (Sect. 3.89 (b)).

Subpart E - Marine Mammals. Section 3.101 Facilities, general.

(b) Water and power supply. ".... Written contingency plans must be submitted to and approved by the AC Deputy Administrator regarding emergency sources of water and electric power in the event of failure of the primary sources, when such failure could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to the good health and well-being of the marine mammal housed therein." (Sect. 3.101 (b)). (The plan must include the requirements in this section: 3.101(b)).

Section 3.106 Water quality.

(a) General. "The primary enclosure shall not contain water which would be detrimental to the health of the marine mammal contained therein." (3.106 (a)).

(b) Bacterial standards.

(3) "Water samples shall be taken and tested at least weekly for coliform count and at least daily for pH and any chemical additives (e.g. chlorine and copper) that are added to the water to maintain water quality standards.... Records must be kept documenting the time when all such samples were taken and the results of the sampling. Records of all such test results shall be maintained by management for a 1-year period and must be made available for inspection purposes on request." (3.106 (b)(3)) .

Section 3.110 Veterinary care.

(f) All marine mammals must be visually examined by the attending veterinarian at least semiannually and physically examined when determined by the attending veterinarian and at least annually.

(g) "A complete necropsy must be conducted by or under the direct supervision of a veterinarian on all marine mammals that die in captivity. A necropsy report must be prepared by the veterinarian listing all pathologic lesions observed and giving the apparent cause of death. All diagnostic rests conducted on post mortem specimens shall be listed in the report, and the results of each test recorded. The management of the facility, at which the marine mammal died, must maintain these necropsy records for a period of 3 years and present them to Department inspectors when requested." (Sect. 3.110 (d)).

Section 3.112 Consignment to carriers and intermediate handlers.

(b) Any carrier or intermediate handler shall only accept for transportation or transport, in commerce, any marine mammal in a primary enclosure which conforms to the requirements set forth in section 3.113 of the standards: Provided, however, That any carrier or intermediate handler may accept for transport, in commerce, any marine mammal .... if the consignor furnishes to the carrier or intermediate handler a certificate, signed by the consignor, stating that the primary enclosure complies with section 3.113 of the standards, unless such primary enclosure is obviously defective or damaged and it is apparent that it cannot reasonably be expected to contain the marine mammal without causing suffering or injury to such marine mammal. A copy of such certificate shall accompany the shipment to destination. The certificate shall include the information set forth in section 3.112 (b)(1)-(4). (Sect. 3.112 (b)).

(c) Carriers or intermediate handlers whose facilities fail to meet the minimum temperature allowed by the standards may accept for transportation or transport, in commerce, any marine mammal .... if the consignor furnishes to the carrier or intermediate handler a certificate executed by the attending veterinarian .... on a specified date which shall not be more than 10 days prior to delivery of such animal for transportation, in commerce, stating that the marine mammal is acclimated to an air temperature range lower or higher than those prescribed is sections 3.117 and 3.118. A copy of such certificate shall accompany the shipment to destination. The certificate is to include at least the information required in section 3.112 (c)(1)-(4). (Sect. 3.112 (c)).

Section 3.113 Primary enclosures used to transport marine mammals.

(f) Primary enclosures used to transport marine mammals .... shall be clearly marked on top and on one or more sides with the words "Live Animal" or "Wild Animal" .... in letters not less than 1 inch in height, and with arrows or other markings, t o indicate the correct upright position of the container. (Sect. 3.113 (f)).

(g) "Documents accompanying the shipment shall be attached in an easily accessible manner to the outside of a primary enclosure which is part of such shipment." (Sect. 3.113 (g)).

Subpart F - Other animals. Section 3.133 Separation.

Animals housed in the same primary enclosure must be compatible and not be housed near animals that interfere with their health or cause them discomfort.

Section 3.136 Consignment to carriers and intermediate handlers.

(b) Any carrier or intermediate handler shall only accept for transportation or transport, in commerce, any live animal in a primary enclosure which conforms to the requirements set forth in section 3.137 of the standards: Provided, however, That any carrier or intermediate handler may accept for transportation or transport, in commerce, any live animal .... if the consignor furnishes to the carrier or intermediate handler a certificate, signed by the consignor, stating that the primary enclosure complies with section 3.137 of the standards, unless such primary enclosure is obviously defective or damaged and it is apparent that it cannot reasonably be expected to contain the live animal without causing suffering or injury to such live animal. A copy of such certification shall accompany the shipment to destination. The certificate shall include at least the information required in section 3.136 (b)(1)-(4). (Sect. 3.136 (b)).

(c) Carriers and intermediate handlers whose facilities fail to meet the minimum temperature allowed by the standards may accept for transportation or transport, in commerce, any live animal .... if the consignor furnishes to the carrier or intermediate handler a certificate executed by a veterinarian .... on a specific date which shall not be more than 10 days prior to delivery of such animal for transportation in commerce, stating that such live animal is acclimated to air temperatures lower than those prescribed in sections 3.141 and 3.142. A copy of such certificate shall accompany the shipment to destination. The certificate shall include the information required by section 3.136 (c)(1)-(4). (Sect. 3.136 (c)).

Section 3.139 Food and water requirements.

(d) Any dealer or exhibitor offering any live animal to any carrier or intermediate handler for transportation in commerce shall affix to the outside of the primary enclosure used for transporting such live animal, written instructions concerning the food and water requirements of such animal while being so transported. (Sect.3.139 (d)).

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The Animal Welfare Act is the only U.S. Federal law that regulates the treatment of animals in research, teaching, testing, and exhibition.