CAPS Communication to the USDA and APHIS
To:
Dr. Chester A. Gipson
Deputy Administrator- Animal Care
United States Department of Agriculture
&
…Dr. Gerald Rushin
Veterinary Medical Officer
United States Department of Agriculture
From:
Ed Green and Dave Ross
Crowell & Moring LLP
Excerpt:
On behalf of the Companion Animal Protection Society (“CAPS”) and Ms. Howard, we wanted to take a moment to congratulate USDA and APHIS for planning to provide more accessible Animal Welfare Act enforcement information to the public on a regular and systematic basis. CAPS welcomes the increased transparency and enhanced enforcement effort described during the May 20, 2010 Animal Care Stakeholder Update meeting and in Administrator Smith’s April 29, 2010 press release (enclosed). Quite frankly, these developments are long overdue…
Attachments:
Letter to APHIS (PDF)
Inspection Requirements (April 19, 2010) (PDF)
Inspection Requirments Attachments (Checklist for Animal Care Inspection Report) (PDF)
USDA – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal Care Program Inspections of Problematic Dealers
Related News:
Article: USDA fails to crack down on puppy mills
By: Mary Clare Jalonick (AP)
Who: Associated Press
URL for more info: USDA fails to crack down on puppy mills
Excerpt:
WASHINGTON — An internal government report says dogs are dying and living in horrific conditions due to lax government enforcement of large kennels known as puppy mills.
Investigators say the Department of Agriculture agency in charge of enforcing the Animal Welfare Act often ignores repeat violations, waives penalties and doesn’t adequately document inhumane treatment of dogs. In one case cited by the department’s inspector general, 27 dogs died at an Oklahoma breeding facility after inspectors had visited the facility several times and cited it for violations…
