Animal
Care Mission Statement:
AC provides leadership in establishing acceptable standards of humane
animal care and treatment and to monitor and achieve compliance with
the Animal Welfare Act through inspections, education, and cooperative
efforts.
Animal
Care EEO/CR Advisory Committee
AC
EEO/CR
USDA
General Policy:
USDA
Privacy Statement
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
Government
Employment
Job
vacancies at APHIS,
and
Government Wide
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Meetings
of Interest:
Horse Protection
Technology Educational Meetings:
Animal Care is holding a series of free educational meetings to present
current information on new technology being explored for use in the
enforcement of the Horse Protection Act. The first meeting was in July.
The final two meetings are planned for October 21, 2004 in Temecula, CA and October 23, 2004 in Federal Way, Washington. See details here. Future meetings
will be announced as planning is completed.
Big Cat Symposium:
This is a notice to animal exhibitors, dealers, transporters, researchers,
animal protection groups, industry groups, and other interested persons
that we are holding a series of educational symposia to present current
information on the care and maintenance of exotic big cats. This notice
provides the agenda for the symposia and information on the location
and dates of the final two symposia. There will be two one-day big
cat symposiums in St. Louis, MO on October 27, 2004 and in Riverdale,
MD on December 8, 2004. Topics will include
veterinary
care issues, transportation, new training methods, nutrition, and
more. Please click
here for
more information. Also, please read the official
publication.
Recent
Issues, Reports, and Highlights:
Update
on APHIS’ Case Against Martin Creek Kennels
We are receiving
emails, letters, and telephone calls inquiring about our case against
Chester C. Baird, aka C.C. Baird. Please note that on July 12, 2004,
APHIS amended its Complaint against Mr. Baird and others alleging
numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The AWA does not authorize
the summary revocation of a person's AWA license. The AWA and the
Administrative Procedures Act require that licensees be provided
due process.
Thus, in accordance
with the law, APHIS is affording Mr. Baird notice and the opportunity
for a hearing. APHIS has requested an expedited hearing in this matter.
Update on APHIS’ Settlement
with The Hawthorn Corporation and John F. Cuneo, Jr.
Last March, APHIS
entered into a consent decision and order that settled an Animal
Welfare Act enforcement case against John F. Cuneo, Jr., and The
Hawthorn Corporation. Among other things, Hawthorn and Cuneo admitted
to violations of the Animal Welfare Act, paid a $200,000 civil penalty,
and agreed to donate their sixteen elephants, by August 15, 2004,
to facilities that could demonstrate the ability to care for the
elephants in compliance with the AWA and were approved by APHIS.
Under the settlement, if Hawthorn and Cuneo failed to donate the
elephants by August 15, Hawthorn’s license would be revoked.
In late July and early August, Hawthorn and Cuneo filed motions with
USDA’s Chief Administrative Law Judge seeking to change the August
15 deadline and vacate the settlement. Two days before the deadline,
the Chief Administrative Law Judge issued a ruling staying the deadline
until he ruled on the motions. This means that, for the time being,
Cuneo is allowed to keep his elephants. APHIS is appealing the ruling
that stays the deadline to the USDA’s Judicial Officer, and seeking
an order from the Judicial Officer vacating that ruling. Hawthorn and
Cuneo will be afforded the opportunity to respond, and the Judicial
Officer will rule on the appeal.
As of the August deadline, thirteen elephants have not been donated
and, in light of the Chief Administrative Law Judge’s ruling, APHIS
has not revoked Hawthorn’s license.
Federal
Register Notices and Information
APHIS
Rulemaking (how a regulation
becomes a regulation)
All
Federal Register Notices
Read
Comments to Rules
Regulations and Standards for Birds, Rats, and
Mice
Extension
of Birds, Rat, Mice Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to
November 1, 2004
Final
Rule: Animal Welfare; Inspection, Licensing, and Procurement
of Animals: Amends the Animal Welfare Act regulations to
revise and clarify the exemptions from the licensing requirements,
the procedures for applying for licenses and renewals, and the
restrictions upon the acquisition of dogs, cats, and other animals.
For breeders of small exotic pets, such as sugar gliders,
hedgehogs, spiny mice, degus, short tailed opossums, etc, there
is an exemption
from licensing based on number of animals owned
Final Rule: Definition of Animal
Animal
Welfare; Policy on Training and Handling of Potentially Dangerous
Animals (97-001-5)
Regulation
of Non-Domestic Air Carriers
Policy
Manual
Press Releases
Pet
Travel Information:
For
routine importation or exportation of pets please go to the APHIS
Veterinary Services National Center Import and Export (NCIE)
page or call 301-734-8364.
For other information
on pet travel, please go to this page.
BSE
information
USDA
Web Page
APHIS
Web Page
Alert
on Giant Snails:
This is a public service message about
a new pest that can pose dangers to humans.
Pages
of Interest:
Request
an Application Kit for Licensing or Registration
Request
an Animal Care Form or Forms
Annual
Report Submission (Please
note: a new password is needed each year.
You can request the new password on the first page after clicking
the link. Also, not all browsers work with this link.
Question and Answer Page
Answers
for Frequently Searched Items
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