The AWA requires that minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for most warm-blooded animals bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially, or exhibited to the public. This includes animals exhibited in zoos, circuses, and marine mammal facilities as well as pets transported on commercial airlines. The AWA also prohibits staged dogfights, bear and raccoon baiting, and similar animal fighting ventures. The law was first passed in 1966 and amended in 1970, 1976, 1985, and 1990.

In enforcing the AWA, Animal Care (AC) conducts randomly scheduled, unannounced inspections to ensure that all regulated facilities comply with the law. If an inspection reveals deficiencies in meeting the AWA standards and regulations, the inspector instructs the facility to correct the problems within a given timeframe. If deficiencies remain uncorrected at the follow up inspection, AC documents the facility's deficiencies and considers possible legal action. Such action could include fines and/or license suspensions or revocations.

In addition to the AWA, many State and local governments have passed animal welfare legislation. The public is encouraged to work with Federal, State, and local officials as well as local humane organizations to help eliminate inhumane treatment of animals.

History of the Animal Welfare Act

History of AWA is a short summary of the reasons and laws behind the Animal Welfare Act

Organization of AWA

The Animal Care program is headquartered in Riverdale, MD, and has two regional offices in Raleigh, NC, and Ft. Collins, CO. These offices are charged with enforcing the Animal Welfare Act in each of their respective areas. Please view the organization map for the States within each regional office and for contact information.