I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1622
To prohibit the importation of products made with dog or cat fur, to prohibit
the sale, manufacture, offer for sale, transportation, and distribution
of products made with dog or cat fur in the United States, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 29, 1999
Mr. KLECZKA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Com-
merce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To prohibit the importation of products made with dog or
cat fur, to prohibit the sale, manufacture, offer for sale,
transportation, and distribution of products made with
dog or cat fur in the United States, and for other pur-
poses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Dog and Cat Protec-
tion Act of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings:
(1) An estimated 2,000,000 dogs and cats are
slaughtered and sold annually as part of the inter-
national fur trade. Internationally, dog and cat fur
is used in a wide variety of products, including fur
coats and jackets, fur-trimmed garments, hats,
gloves, decorative accessories, stuffed animals, and
other toys.
(2) There is no known dog or cat fur produc-
tion within the United States.
(3) As demonstrated by forensic tests, dog and
cat fur products are being imported into the United
States, in some cases with deceptive labeling to con-
ceal the use of dog or cat fur.
(4) Dog and cat fur, when dyed, is not easily
distinguishable to persons who are not experts from
other furs such as fox, rabbit, coyote, wolf, and
mink. Dog and cat fur is generally less expensive
than other types of fur and may be used as a sub-
stitute for more expensive types of furs.
(5) Foreign fur producers use dogs and cats
bred for their fur, and also use strays and stolen
pets.
(6) The methods of housing, transporting, and
slaughtering dogs and cats in foreign countries for
fur production are generally unregulated and inhu-
mane. The animals are often held in cramped and
unsanitary quarters without adequate heat, food, or
water. Slaughter methods include hanging, drown-
ing, strangulation, and bleeding to death.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are—
(1) to prohibit imports of dog and cat fur prod-
ucts and to ensure that the United States market
does not encourage the slaughter of dogs or cats for
their fur;
(2) to prohibit the sale, manufacture, offer for
sale, transportation, and distribution in the United
States of dog and cat fur products; and
(3) to require accurate labeling of fur species so
that consumers in the United States can make in-
formed choices.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) DOG FUR.—The term ‘‘dog fur’’ means the
pelt or skin of any animal of the species canis
familiaris.
(2) CAT FUR.—The term ‘‘cat fur’’ means the
pelt or skin of any animal of the species felis catus.
(3) 
UNITED
STATES.—The 
term 
‘‘United
States’’ means the customs territory of the United
States, as defined in general note 2 of the Har-
monized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
(4) COMMERCE.—The term ‘‘commerce’’ means
transportation for sale, trade, or use between any
State, territory, or possession of the United States,
or the District of Columbia, and any place outside
thereof.
(5) DOG
OR
CAT
FUR
PRODUCT.—The term
‘‘dog or cat fur product’’ means any item of mer-
chandise which consists, or is composed in whole or
in part, of any dog fur, cat fur, or both.
(6) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ includes any
individual, partnership, corporation, association, or-
ganization, business trust, government entity, or
other entity.
(7) INTERESTED PARTY.—The term ‘‘interested
party’’ means any person having a contractual, fi-
nancial, humane, or other interest.
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Treasury.
(9) DULY
AUTHORIZED
OFFICER.—The term
‘‘duly authorized officer’’ means any United States
Customs officer, any agent of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, or any agent or other person author-
ized by law or designated by the Secretary to enforce
the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 4. PROHIBITIONS.
(a) IMPORTS.—No dog or cat fur product may be im-
ported into the United States.
(b) PROHIBITION
ON MANUFACTURE, SALE, AND
OTHER ACTIVITIES.—No person in the United States or
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States may intro-
duce into commerce, manufacture for introduction into
commerce, sell, trade, or advertise in commerce, offer to
sell, or transport or distribute in commerce, any dog or
cat fur product.
SEC. 5. LABELING.
Section 2(d) of the Fur Products Labeling Act (15
U.S.C. 69(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘; except that such
term shall not include such articles as the Commission
shall exempt by reason of the relatively small quantity or
value of the fur or used fur contained therein’’.
SEC. 6. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, either independ-
ently or in cooperation with the States, political subdivi-
sions thereof, and interested parties, is authorized to carry
out operations and measures to eradicate and prevent the
activities prohibited by section 4.