I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4693 

To amend the Animal Welfare Act to provide for the humane treatment 

of dogs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 20, 2017 

Mr. FITZPATRICK (for himself and Mr. CRIST) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 

A BILL 

To amend the Animal Welfare Act to provide for the humane 

treatment of dogs, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Puppy Protection Act 

5 of 2017’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DOGS IN DEALER 

7 FACILITIES. 

8 (a) HUMANE TREATMENT OF DOGS IN DEALER FA9 CILITIES.—Section 13(a) of The Animal Welfare Act (7 


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1 U.S.C. 2143(a)) is amended by adding at the end the fol2 lowing new paragraph: 

3 ‘‘(9) In addition to the requirements under paragraph 

4 (2), the standards described in paragraph (1) shall, with 

5 respect to dogs in a dealer facility, include requirements— 

6 ‘‘(A) that such dealer facility provide adequate 

7 housing for dogs that includes— 

8 ‘‘(i) completely solid flooring; 

9 ‘‘(ii) sufficient indoor space to allow the 

10 tallest dog in an enclosure to stand on his or 

11 her hind legs without touching the roof of the 

12 enclosure; 

13 ‘‘(iii) with respect to dogs over 8 weeks in 

14 age, primary enclosures that, with the length of 

15 the dog measured from the tip of the nose to 

16 the base of the tail, provide at least— 

17 ‘‘(I) 12 square feet of indoor floor 

18 space per each dog up to 25 inches long; 

19 ‘‘(II) 20 square feet of indoor floor 

20 space per each dog between 25 and 35 

21 inches long; and 

22 ‘‘(III) 30 square feet of indoor floor 

23 space per each dog 35 inches and longer; 


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1 ‘‘(iv) enclosures that are not stacked or 

2 otherwise placed on top of or below another en3 closure; and 

4 ‘‘(v) temperature control that— 

5 ‘‘(I) is appropriate for the age, breed, 

6 and condition of the dogs in the enclosure; 

7 and 

8 ‘‘(II) is between 45 and 85 degrees 

9 Fahrenheit, when dogs are present in the 

10 enclosure; 

11 ‘‘(B) that appropriate and nutritious food be 

12 fed at least twice per day, in an amount sufficient 

13 to maintain the good health and physical condition 

14 of each dog; 

15 ‘‘(C) for continuous access to potable water 

16 that is not frozen and is free of feces, algae, and 

17 other contaminants be available; 

18 ‘‘(D) for adequate exercise, including— 

19 ‘‘(i) for dogs over the age of 12 weeks, un20 fettered access from their primary enclosures 

21 during daylight hours to an outdoor exercise 

22 area that is— 

23 ‘‘(I) at ground-level; 

24 ‘‘(II) a solid surface; 


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1 ‘‘(III) enclosed (by a fence or other 

2 structure); 

3 ‘‘(IV) properly controlled for the safe4 ty of the dogs; and 

5 ‘‘(V) at least two times the space re6 quired for a dog under subparagraph 

7 (A)(iii); or 

8 ‘‘(ii) if the dealer obtains a certification 

9 from the attending veterinarian stating that the 

10 dog should not have unfettered access to an 

11 outdoor exercise area for a specific medical rea12 son, an alternative and appropriate exercise 

13 plan prescribed by the veterinarian for the dog 

14 that meets the requirements under section 3.8a 

15 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations; 

16 ‘‘(E) for at least 30 minutes each day of mean17 ingful socialization with humans and compatible 

18 dogs that— 

19 ‘‘(i) includes positive interaction with a 

20 human such as petting, stroking, grooming, 

21 feeding, playing with, exercising, or other 

22 touching of the dog that is beneficial to the 

23 well-being of the dog; and 

24 ‘‘(ii) does not include time spent in veteri25 nary care; 


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1 ‘‘(F) that each dog receive adequate veterinary 

2 care, including— 

3 ‘‘(i) a hands-on examination by a licensed 

4 veterinarian at least once each year; 

5 ‘‘(ii) core vaccinations recommended by the 

6 current version of the American Animal Hos7 pital Association Canine Vaccination Guidelines; 

8 and 

9 ‘‘(iii) medications to prevent intestinal 

10 parasites, heartworm disease, fleas, and ticks 

11 that are approved by a licensed veterinarian for 

12 canine use; 

13 ‘‘(G) for safe breeding practices, including— 

14 ‘‘(i) a screening program for known preva15 lent inheritable diseases that may be disabling 

16 or likely to significantly affect the lifespan or 

17 quality of life of the offspring; 

18 ‘‘(ii) prohibiting breeding, unless each dog 

19 bred is free from health conditions that may be 

20 disabling to, or likely to significantly affect the 

21 lifespan or quality of life of, the offspring (as 

22 documented by a licensed veterinarian upon ex23 amination); 

24 ‘‘(iii) prohibiting the breeding of a female 

25 dog— 


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1 ‘‘(I) to produce more than two litters 

2 in any 18-month period; or 

3 ‘‘(II) more than 6 litters in that dog’s 

4 lifetime; 

5 ‘‘(iv) that female dogs of small breeds 

6 (weighing less than 40 pounds when fully ma7 ture) not be bred— 

8 ‘‘(I) before reaching the age of 18 

9 months; or 

10 ‘‘(II) after reaching the age of 9 

11 years; 

12 ‘‘(v) that female dogs of large breeds 

13 (weighing 40 pounds or more when fully ma14 ture) not be bred— 

15 ‘‘(I) before reaching the age of 2 

16 years; or 

17 ‘‘(II) after reaching the age of 7 

18 years; and 

19 ‘‘(vi) that any canine caesarian section be 

20 performed by a licensed veterinarian; and 

21 ‘‘(H) to make all reasonable efforts to find hu22 mane placement for retired breeding dogs (such as 

23 with an adoptive family, rescue organization, or 

24 other appropriate owner for that dog, and not in25 cluding selling at auction or otherwise placing a reVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:23 Dec 21, 2017 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4693.IH H4693

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1 tired breeding dog with another breeder for breeding 

2 purposes).’’. 

3 (b) DEALER FACILITY DEFINED.—Section 2 of the 

4 Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2132) is amended by add5 ing at the end the following new subsection: 

6 ‘‘(p) The term ‘dealer facility’ means any facility used 

7 by a dealer in commerce to, for compensation or profit, 

8 deliver for transportation, transport (except as a carrier), 

9 buy, sell, or negotiate the purchase or sale of, any dog.’’. 

10 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 

11 13(a)(2)(B) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 

12 2143(a)(2)(B)) is amended by inserting ‘‘subject to para13 graph (9),’’ before ‘‘for exercise of dogs’’. 

14 SEC. 3. REGULATIONS. 

15 Not later than 18 months after the date of the enact16 ment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue final regulations 

17 establishing the standards for the care of dogs in dealer 

18 facilities, as required by this Act. 

Æ 


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