Members
Learn about the anti-breeder bills threatening our sport in the 2023 Farm Bill. Oppose the Puppy Protection Act and the Goldies Act.
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Every year, the AKC Government Relations Department (AKC GR) tracks and responds to dozens of federal bills and proposed regulations that could impact our rights as dog owners to breed our dogs responsibly and participate in our sport.
GR also tracks approximately 2,500 bills and regulations each year that impact dog owners at the state and local level. However, federal legislation carries particular weight because passage of even a single anti-breeder bill in Congress could wipe out hundreds of breeding programs—and our sport as we know it.
Recently, AKC GR put out an urgent alert urging all club members, exhibitors, owners, and breeders to contact their member of Congress in opposition to two anti-breeder bills that animal rights/ “protection” groups are seeking to pass by including them in the 2023 farm bill. If you haven’t done so yet, please take action. Fancier involvement is urgently needed to stop the animal-rights supported Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 1624) and Goldies Act (H.R. 1788).
Recently, AKC GR put out an urgent alert urging all club members, exhibitors, owners, and breeders to contact their member of Congress in opposition to two anti-breeder bills that animal rights/ “protection” groups are seeking to pass by including them in the 2023 farm bill.
Although dog bills typically don’t top the charts of concerns in Congress, once every five years, the threat of extensive federal canine legislation expands exponentially. Most federal legislation and regulation impacting dog breeders, including breeder licensing programs, are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. Agricultural programs, which include nutrition and food security, represent an enormous chunk of the federal budget. It’s so large (approximately $500 Billion over five years), that budgetary reauthorization for USDA programs occurs only once every five years, in a bill simply known as “The Farm Bill.” And 2023 is the year.
The Farm Bill funds crucial programs so it’s “must-pass” legislation. As a result, just about every interest with a related bill recognizes the farm bill as an opportunity to attach their own favorite projects to the bill. Extreme animal rights or “protection” (AR) groups (and many other mainstream organizations) are no exception. This year, groups such as the Human Society of the United States (now simply calling themselves “The Humane Society”); the Animal Wellness Action Network, a new extreme animal group led by Wayne Pacelle; and the ASCPA are among the groups with high-powered lobbyists and coffers into the millions pushing legislation that could harm all breeders and particularly devastate small hobby breeders.
Lobbyists for animal extremist groups and others have been trolling the halls of Congress since the beginning of the session, but they’re prioritizing two anti-breeder bills: the Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 1624) and Goldies Act (H.R. 1788).
Among the unsupported claims made by these groups is that there are “tens of thousands of puppy mills” in the United States (in fact, 10,000 is the approximate number of breeders regulated by USDA, underscoring the AR narrative that considers any kennel subject to USDA licensing a “puppy mill”). Another claim they make is that bills would not impact responsible or hobby breeders. This is also false.
To understand the impact of this legislation and the false narrative put forward by AR groups; consider who is subject to USDA licensing, and likewise, who these groups are targeting as “puppy mills.” If you’ve ever maintained more than a few intact female dogs and/or cats and shipped a puppy sight unseen, you could be affected.
For more information, and to see if you are subject to USDA licensing click here.
This bill seeks to add new, arbitrary, one-size-fits-all mandates to federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations governing breeders subject to USDA licensing. It could require hobby breeders to build and place their dogs in industrial, commercial-style kennels, and undermine quality breed-based care. Though labeled as commercial breeding regulations, the one-size-fits-all requirements also apply to some small hobby breeders (see fact sheets).
Prohibit the breeding of a female dog:
While some portions of the measures include reasonable generalized guidelines for canine care, arbitrary requirements that ignore best practices for individual outcomes are not appropriate for federal mandates. One-size-fits-all requirements do not take into account the broad range of breeds and types of dogs, or best health and breeding practices. They also do not allow for creative approaches that permit expert breeders and owners to provide optimal care for their individual dogs and advance the art and science of responsible dog breeding. Arbitrary restrictions can be expensive and undermine small hobby breeding programs because of an overly-broad definition of “breeding female” that impacts who is subject to federal requirements.
Proposal Would Undermine Animal Welfare, DC Journal, April 20, 2023
Breeder Expertise, Thoughtful Analysis Demonstrate Dangerous Flaws in ‘Feel Good’ Dog Law.
Anyone subject to USDA breeder/dealer licensing. Breeders are subject to USDA licensing if they maintain more than four (4) “breeding females” (a term that is undefined but is generally considered to mean an intact female) and transfer even one of the offspring “sight unseen.” “Breeding females” include any combination of cats, dogs, or other small pet mammals such as hamsters, guinea pigs, etc.
Your Involvement is Crucial! Here’s an Easy Way You Can Make a Difference.*
Your member of Congress needs to hear from you. Please call, email, or write to your member of Congress today. Visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center and scroll down to the box on the right rail (Find Officials). Type in your address in the “Find Your Elected Officials” box to find out who represents you and get their contact information.
Taking action today can help protect the future of our breeds, our sport, and the integrity of responsible, expert breeders. Your voice does make a difference!
For questions or more information, contact doglaw@akc.org, visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center or contact 919-816-3720.
*This information was previously published as an AKC Legislative alert on 4/26/23.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
