I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1624 

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

of dogs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 17, 2023 

Mr. FITZPATRICK (for himself, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. RESCHENTHALER, and 

Mr. PANETTA) 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 2023’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DEALERS. 

7 (a) HUMANE TREATMENT OF DOGS BY DEALERS.— 

8 Section 13(a) of The Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 

9 2143(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following 

10 new paragraph: 


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

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

3 respect to dealers, include requirements— 

4 ‘‘(A) that such dealer provide adequate housing 

5 for dogs that includes— 

6 ‘‘(i) completely solid flooring; 

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

8 tallest dog in an enclosure to stand on his or 

9 her hind legs without touching the roof of the 

10 enclosure; 

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

12 age, primary enclosures that, with the length of 

13 the dog measured from the tip of the nose to 

14 the base of the tail, provide at least— 

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

16 space per each dog up to 25 inches long; 

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

18 space per each dog between 25 and 35 

19 inches long; and 

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

21 space per each dog 35 inches and longer; 

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

23 otherwise placed on top of or below another en24 closure; and 

25 ‘‘(v) temperature control that— 


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

2 and condition of the dogs in the enclosure; 

3 and 

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

5 Fahrenheit, when dogs are present in the 

6 enclosure; 

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

8 provided to each dog at least twice per day, in an 

9 amount sufficient to maintain the good health and 

10 physical condition of each such dog; 

11 ‘‘(C) that each dog has continuous access to po12 table water that is not frozen and is free of feces, 

13 algae, and other contaminants; 

14 ‘‘(D) that each dog has adequate exercise, in15 cluding— 

16 ‘‘(i) for dogs over the age of 12 weeks, un17 restricted access from their primary enclosures 

18 during daylight hours to an outdoor exercise 

19 area that is— 

20 ‘‘(I) at ground-level; 

21 ‘‘(II) a solid surface; 

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

23 structure); 

24 ‘‘(IV) properly controlled for the safe25 ty of the dogs; and 


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1 ‘‘(V) allows the dog to extend to full 

2 stride, play, and engage in other types of 

3 mentally stimulating and social behaviors; 

4 or 

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

6 from the attending veterinarian stating that the 

7 dog should not have unfettered access to an 

8 outdoor exercise area for a specific medical rea9 son, an alternative exercise plan prescribed by 

10 the veterinarian for the dog that meets the re11 quirements under section 3.8a of title 9, Code 

12 of Federal Regulations; 

13 ‘‘(E) that each dog has meaningful socialization 

14 with humans and compatible dogs for at least 30 

15 minutes each day that— 

16 ‘‘(i) includes positive interaction with a 

17 human such as petting, stroking, grooming, 

18 feeding, playing with, exercising, or other 

19 touching of the dog that is beneficial to the 

20 well-being of the dog; and 

21 ‘‘(ii) does not include time spent in veteri22 nary care; 

23 ‘‘(F) that each dog receives adequate veterinary 

24 care, including— 


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1 ‘‘(i) prompt treatment of any disease, ill2 ness or injury by a licensed veterinarian; 

3 ‘‘(ii) a thorough hands-on examination by 

4 a licensed veterinarian at least once each year, 

5 which shall include a dental exam; 

6 ‘‘(iii) core vaccinations recommended by 

7 the current version of the American Animal 

8 Hospital Association Canine Vaccination Guide9 lines; and 

10 ‘‘(iv) medications to prevent intestinal 

11 parasites, heartworm disease, fleas, and ticks 

12 that are approved by a licensed veterinarian for 

13 canine use; 

14 ‘‘(G) with respect to safe breeding practices for 

15 dogs, including— 

16 ‘‘(i) a screening program for known preva17 lent inheritable diseases that may be disabling 

18 or likely to significantly affect the lifespan or 

19 quality of life of the mother or her offspring; 

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

21 bred has been screened by a veterinarian prior 

22 to each attempt to breed and is found to be free 

23 from health conditions that may be disabling to, 

24 or likely to significantly affect the lifespan or 

25 quality of life of, the mother or her offspring 


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1 (as documented by a licensed veterinarian upon 

2 examination); 

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

4 dog— 

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

6 in any 18-month period; or 

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

8 lifetime; 

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

10 (having a maximum weight range at maturity 

11 that is below 40 pounds) not be bred— 

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

13 months; or 

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

15 years; 

16 ‘‘(v) that female dogs of large breeds (hav17 ing expected weight ranges at maturity that in18 clude 40 or more pounds) not be bred— 

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

20 years; or 

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

22 years; and 

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

24 performed by a licensed veterinarian; 


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1 ‘‘(H) that dogs be housed with other dogs, un2 less health or behavioral issues make group housing 

3 unsafe; and 

4 ‘‘(I) to make all reasonable efforts to find hu5 mane placement for retired breeding dogs (such as 

6 with an adoptive family, rescue organization, or 

7 other appropriate owner for that dog, and not in8 cluding selling at auction or otherwise placing a re9 tired breeding dog with another breeder for breeding 

10 purposes).’’. 

11 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 

12 13(a)(2)(B) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 

13 2143(a)(2)(B)) is amended by inserting ‘‘subject to para14 graph (9),’’ before ‘‘for exercise of dogs’’. 

15 SEC. 3. REGULATIONS. 

16 Not later than 18 months after the date of the enact17 ment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue final regulations 

18 establishing the standards for the care of dogs by dealers, 

19 as required by this Act. 

Æ 


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