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APHIS’ Animal Care Report

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Summer 2000

We’ve been as busy as ever in Animal Care (AC)

over the last few months, working on complex issues

such as pain and distress in research animals and

holding our national work conference for our

employees. We’ve also brought on several new

inspectors and headquarters staff. In this report, we

include information on changes in rules for airlines

carrying animals that will be administered though the

Department of Transportation and how the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) will likely be

involved.

We hope you find the report informative and

helpful. If you have comments, need to change your

address, or would like to subscribe to the hard-copy

mailing, please contact us at (301) 734–7255 or

ace@usda.gov.

W. Ron DeHaven

Deputy Administrator

Pain and Distress Updates

On June 21, AC updated its Policy 12, which

provides written guidance on the narrative written

about alternatives considered to painful procedures.

The update expands the options beyond the

standard data-base search to include symposiums,

conferences, and consultations. The new policy is

posted on the Internet at

www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/policy/policy12.

On July 10, AC requested comments on possible

changes to the pain categorization system and

creation of a definition for “distress” in the Animal

Welfare Act (AWA) regulations. Comments will be

accepted until November 7. The comment period

was extended from its original September 8

deadline. The notice is available in the July 10

Federal Register and on the Internet. Go to

www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html, scroll

down the page, and look for “Docket #: 00–005–1.”

Comments Sought on Proposed

Licensing Changes

On August 4, AC requested comments on several

proposed changes and clarifications to AWA

regulations, including licensing requirements,

procedures, and exemptions.

AC expects the changes will not only clarify

regulations but will also help AC to better enforce the

AWA. “One of the proposed changes would allow us

to use an applicant’s violation of other Federal,

State, or local laws or regulations pertaining to

animal cruelty and handling to keep the party from

getting a USDA license,” said Ron DeHaven, deputy

administrator for AC.

Other proposed changes include

• Expanding requirements of licensees who maintain

potentially dangerous animals,

• Changing APHIS’ method for notification of license

expiration, and

• Clarifying requirements regarding the number of

female breeding dogs and/or cats that may be

maintained on a single premises without a license.

The proposed rule is available in the August 4

Federal Register and on the Internet. Go to

www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html and

look for “Docket #: 97–121–1.”

National Work Conference

AC provided practical and diverse training and

educational seminars to its field, supervisory, and

headquarters personnel during its biennial National

Work Conference in Oklahoma City April 18–21. The

80 participants included 65 field inspectors,

9 supervisory animal care specialists, 3 regional

directors, 2 staff officers, and AC’s deputy

administrator.

Nearly 50 people, including 19 outside experts, AC

speakers, and other AC team members, provided an

outstanding curriculum. The program conveyed a

mixture of basic information and specialized,

advanced knowledge on a wide range of topics

organized into three main areas: nonhuman

primates, dangerous animals, and miscellaneous

topics that included the basic inspection process.

The first day of the conference began with a

recognition and awards session, during which AC

announced that Dr. Ruth Bakker is the AC Inspector

of the Year. The day also included general sessions,

covering the uniform inspection process, violence in

the workplace, and thermoregulation in elephants

and exhibit design. In breakout sessions, the

discussions of violence issues and thermoregulation

continued, and attendees received training in the use

of digital cameras and the Internet.

Day two was devoted to nonhuman primates.

General and breakout sessions included natural

history, behavior, nutrition, social housing, safety

issues, and environmental enrichment. Excellent

outside experts presented new and invaluable

information for AC employees.
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USDA–APHIS–Animal Care

Headquarters Office

W. Ron DeHaven, D.V.M.

4700 River Road, Unit 84

Riverdale, MD 20737–1234

Phone: (301) 734–7833

Fax: (301) 734–4978

Eastern Region

Elizabeth Goldentyer, D.V.M.

920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200

Raleigh, NC 27606–5210

Phone: (919) 716–5532

Fax: (919) 716–5696

Central Region

Walter Christensen, D.V.M.

P.O. Box 915004 (letters)

501 Felix Street, Bldg. 11 (packages)

Fort Worth, TX 76115–9104

Phone: (817) 885–6923

Fax: (817) 885–6917

Western Region

Robert Gibbens, D.V.M.

9580 Micron Avenue, Suite J

Sacramento, CA 95827

Phone: (916) 857–6205

Fax: (916) 857–6212

World Wide Web Home Page

www.aphis.usda.gov/ac

E-mail Address

ace@usda.gov

The third day brought a change in focus to

dangerous-animal issues, including updates on policy

and regulatory changes, basics in animal training,

transportation issues and standards, carnivore

nutrition, behavior of bears and big cats, and capture

and restraint techniques.

The last day’s wrapup session included

discussions of safety and health, farm animal policy

implementation, and course evaluations.

Staff Changes

Throughout the spring and summer, AC has

continued to fill field inspector positions around the

country. When all positions are filled, AC will have 75

inspectors, up from 65 in September 1999. New

inspectors are in Denver, CO, Fort Myers, FL,

Springfield, MA, Springdale, AR, and Indianola, IA.

Our Gainesville, FL, inspector transferred to

Montgomery, AL, and was replaced by a former

inspector from New Mexico.

This summer, AC also gained four new staff

employees at headquarters in Riverdale, MD. Jodie

Kulpa is a veterinary medical officer who transferred

from Wisconsin. Her focus will be on issues related

to research. Kulpa has worked with AC since 1993

after serving as an inspector with APHIS’ veterinary

biologics field operations. Kulpa received her D.V.M.

from the University of Minnesota.

Two new program assistants also came onboard.

Carrie Joyce will support the staff on a variety of

issues by coordinating meetings, reports, and various

nationwide projects. She comes from APHIS’ Wildlife

Services operational support staff. And Cathy

Sullivan came to AC from Marketing and Regulatory

Programs–Business Services. She is focusing on

work with AC’s data bases and software. Crystal

Bass is a new secretary on the staff. She transferred

to USDA from another Federal agency in April.

AC Updates Strategic Direction

Continuing with implementation of AC’s revised

strategic direction, the Animal Care Management

Team met in May to begin work on a new operating

plan. The discussion also included increasing the

quality of dog-dealer inspections and improving the

timeliness of enforcement actions.

The new strategic direction highlights

accomplishments from the last several years and

identifies areas that need new or continued

improvement. Check out the complete report at

www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/strategicplan.html on the AC

Website.

USDA Employee Honored for Dogfighting

Investigation

Investigative and Enforcement Services

investigator Jackie Freeman was honored by the

Secretary of Agriculture in June along with an

assistant U.S. attorney and a sergeant (now

lieutenant) with the Texas Department of Public

Safety. Together, they conducted a 5-year

investigation of illegal interstate dog fighting, and

their work led to the Federal and State prosecutions

of more than 60 individuals in four States involved in

this illegal activity.
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Pet Travel News

Keep a good look out! The “Traveling With Your

Pet” public service announcement (PSA) could be

coming to a TV screen near you. AC’s animated 30-

second PSA has aired in 29 States across the

country and was even requested by outlets in

Bermuda. So far, the PSA has garnered AC more

than $345,000 in free air time.

There have been a lot of changes over the last

several months for these pets traveling by air. Many

airlines have decided to not carry pets as checked

baggage at all this summer, and some perhaps

permanently. This does not include animals shipped

as cargo, only those going with the passengers as

baggage. These restrictions were imposed by the

airlines, not as the result of any AWA or regulation

changes.

In April, Congress passed and the President

signed legislation for reorganization of the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA) (P.L. 106–181), though

new regulations have not yet been written. The law

includes requirements that airlines report to the

Department of Transportation (DOT) incidents

involving animal injury, escape, or death that occur in

conjunction with air transport. The law also directs

DOT to work with airlines to improve the training of

employees to be able to better ensure the safety of

animals and to better explain to passengers the

conditions under which their pets will travel, such as

differences in conditions of the cargo hold versus the

passenger cabin.

AC expects to be working with the FAA on a

memorandum of understanding between USDA and

DOT on the reporting requirements and sharing

information to train airline employees.

Inspectors Equipped With Digital

Cameras

All AC inspectors were equipped with digital and

traditional cameras this year as part of AC’s effort to

build stronger cases. Sometimes video cameras are

used as well. Photographs are routinely taken if the

inspectors encounter serious or continuing

noncompliant items. Digital photos can quickly be

transmitted to the regional office for consultation

purposes. These photos can also be easily copied

onto a computer and shared with the facility. APHIS

officials have the authority to take photographs to

document violations. Digital photographs will be

submitted with an investigation request and could

become part of an investigative file just like the

traditional prints.

Policy Update

AC policies are available in full on the AC Website

(www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/polman.html).

Policies Under Development

• Painful procedures (revision of Policy 11)

Policies Completed

• Consideration of alternatives to painful/distressful

procedures (revision to Policy 12), June 12, 2000

Regulatory Update

The items listed below are under consideration

and not yet published in the Federal Register, were

published in the Federal Register and are open for

comment, or were previously open for comment and

are now under review by the Department.

Notices

• Definition for and reporting of pain and distress

(comments due 11/7)

• Nonhuman primate environment enrichment policy

(under review)

• Policy on training and handling of potentially

dangerous animals (comment period closed 4/18)

• Petition for regulation of rats, mice, and birds

(under review)

Proposed Rules

• Inspection, licensing, and procurement of animals

(comments due 10/3)

• Identification of unweaned puppies and kittens

(under consideration)

• Amend definition of exhibitor (under consideration)

• Veterinary medical records (under consideration)

• Incorporation of American Veterinary Medical

Association standards for euthanasia (under

consideration)

• Regulation of wholesale dealers of hunting,

breeding, and security dogs (under consideration)

• Marine mammals: nonconsensus language and

interactive programs (under consideration)

• Acclimation certificates for dogs and cats (under

review)

• Exotic canids and felids: minimum age for

transport (under consideration)

Final Rules

• Confiscation of animals (under consideration)

• Marine mammals: consensus language (under

consideration)

Technical Amendments

• Perimeter fencing (under consideration)
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,

national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual

orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases

apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require

alternative means for communication of program information

(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s

TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office

of Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call

(202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity

provider and employer.