**[Pet Animal Welfare Statute Talking Points]{.underline}**

-   Congressman Gerlach introduced H.R. 2669, the Pet Animal Welfare
    Statute (PAWS), on May 26, 2005.

-   Today, wholesale commercial dog breeding facilities are licensed to
    operate by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
    Owners of these facilities are required to comply with the rules and
    regulations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), which sets forth
    standards for humane handling and treatment. USDA inspections are
    authorized to ensure compliance with AWA standards.

-   The AWA, as written, has been unable to enforce their regulations to
    ensure that proper treatment of animals bought and sold in commerce.
    The substandard treatment of animals continues to occur and PAWS
    will attempt to correct this problem.

-   PAWS is necessary because breeders are selling directly to the
    public through the internet and therefore are able to bypass
    regulation from the USDA. By having this ability to bypass
    government regulation, puppy mills have become breeding facilities
    that are able to mass-produce purebred animals. The animals are
    typically sold at eight weeks of age and they often become pet store
    inventory. Facilities such as these often mistreat dogs and cats and
    frequently violate USDA minimum care rules. Veterinary care is often
    substandard and the quality of food and shelter is habitually
    inadequate.

-   Other problems besides the mistreatment of animals include the
    defrauding of customers, who believe that they are purchasing
    healthy dogs and cats. Animals from large-scale breeding facilities
    often face an array of veterinary problems and may harbor
    genetically borne diseases that do not manifest until several years
    after the animal is purchased.

-   USDA data reveals that there are at least 3,000 commercial animal
    breeding facilities operating in the United States despite the
    repeated violations of the AWA. There are 128 animal breeding
    facilities in Pennsylvania alone. With approximately 100 inspectors,
    the USDA is unable to effectively enforce the AWA regulations.

-   The Pet Animal Welfare Statue will strengthen existing law covering
    commercial dog and car breeding facilities by amending the Animal
    Welfare Act to require that any commercial breeder who sells more
    than 7 litters of dogs or cats and sell more than 25 dogs and cats
    directly to the public in a year to be licensed by the United States
    Department of Agriculture. This threshold test would differentiate
    commercial breeders from hobby breeders, allowing hobby breeders to
    continue without government intervention.

-   In addition, PAWS would cover persons who import animals for resale
    and other non-breeder dealers who sell more than 25 dogs or cats a
    year, strengthen the USDA's enforcement authority, and assure USDA's
    access to source records of persons who acquire dogs for resale.
    Finally, PAWS expands the USDA's authority to seek injunctions
    against unlicensed dog and cat dealers. PAWS addresses the commerce
    in pets from many different angles, including imports, large direct
    sellers, Internet sellers, enforcement tools, and source records.