after signing the bill into law.
(Photo: mn.gov)
Time to celebrate, SWDers! It’s been a long road to get here (one with its share of disappointments), but yesterday, May 20, Governor Mark Dayton signed the Omnibus Supplemental Budget Bill (H.F. 3172) into law, which included the MN Dog and Cat Breeder Regulation Bill.
The new law protects dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens in commercial breeding facilities better than ever before. The law is aimed at “commercial breeders,” whom the law defines as:
Under the new law, each commercial breeder must:
- Be licensed
- Allow the MN Board of Animal Health to inspect their facilities to enforce laws and ensure animal care standards are met
- Keep identifying and medical records for each animal
- Develop and maintain veterinary protocol to control and prevent disease
- Provide “daily enrichment” to their animals, providing physical contact with people and other animals at least twice a day
- Provide ample staff to maintain the facility, monitor animal health, and properly care for them
- Provide a veterinary health certificate for the animal being sold
- Wait until all puppies and kittens are at least 8 weeks old before selling them, unless otherwise directed by a vet for the animal’s health or well-being
This law means huge wins for animals everywhere (including Ali’s sweet “lemon” Luc, who we’re sure would have considered this a victory) and goes into effect July 1, 2014. Within one year, all new and existing commercial breeders must register with the MN Board of Animal Health. This ensures that by July 2016 each commercial breeder will have had their first inspection.
Thanks to Governor Mark Dayton, Representative John Lesch and Senator John Marty for chief authoring the bills in the House and Senate respectively, the Animal Humane Society, Animal Folks MN, the members of the coalition (full list included here), and every single veterinarian, animal organization, and citizen who signed a petition in support of this bill or others like it. Congratulations!
