riNDINCJS AND RKC OMMKNDA I IONS 



Alli'i H'vicvviiig llic Aiiiin;il Wcllaic Acl. imcl hearing coinmenls inim persons 

 involvfd in animal wcHarc aclivilics. animal conirol. local ami stale government olficiuls. 

 ami animal health professionals, the comtnitlee ntakes the lollovving six 

 recomnienclalions. ami presents a cirall hill lor consideration. 



Recommenclalion ff\. COUN IV AND ril V ANIMAL CONTROL PACILIIIES. 



One ol the purposes ol the Animal Wellare Ael is to insure that clogs and cats that 

 are conlined in animal shelters are provided luimane care and treatment. However, 

 "animal shelter" is defined in the Acl so as to exclude appioximalely 85% of all animal 

 shelters. Only shelters operated by humane societies and non profit groups are currently 

 covered by the Act. I he Acl also shows a legislative intent that dogs and cats, as items 

 of commerce, are treated Immaiiely. Alter reviewing research data, it became clear that 

 county and city pounds, which are not covered by the Act. are involved in the commerce 

 of animals on a large scale whether by sale to the public or to research groups. 



Aitiiough a large number of animal control facilities or pounds may already provide 

 an environment which meets the standards of the rules published under the authority of 

 the Act. (he ("ommitlee delermined thai there should be minimum standards for animal 

 control facilities, on a slate wide basis. information presented to the Committee 

 indicates that there are some facilities, currently under local government control, which 

 do nol meel Ihe minimum standards whiih were determined to provide humane care for 

 confined animals. Problems include. lailure to provide food and water at regular 

 intervals; substandard construction; poor recordkeeping; cage overcrowding; lailure to 

 keep animals 72 hours before disposition; inaccessibility to the public; Kick of facility 

 supervision; unsafe carbon monoxide chambers: iinsanilaiy conditions; lack ol veterinary 

 care for sick or injured animals; and improper disposition ol animal bodies, the lailure 

 lo include facilities operated by local governments under the Act thwarts another stated 

 purpose of the act: lo insure Ihal animals, as items of commerce, are provided humane 

 care and Ireatmeiil by regulating persons or organizations engaged in selling, housing, 

 caring, or transpoiling such animals. Ihe Committee decided that local governments 

 should meel Ihe same miuimum standards that are rec|uired for shelters run by other 

 organizations. Including all shelters under Ihe Acl will result in Ihe inspection of all 

 animal control facilities or shelters, public and private, lo insure that minimum standards 

 lor Ihe humane care and lieatmenl ol dogs and cats are being observed. 



Ihe draft bill pro\ides for a new delinition of "animal shelter." which would 

 include county and municipal shelters and poumls. The Animal Welfare Act requires 

 Ihal shelters be registered with the stale: there are no fees involved with such 

 legist rat ion. 



