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An Explanation of the Quiz

(Correct answers and explanations are in red)

1. The Animal Welfare Act is the federal law that is supposed to protect the breeding dogs used in puppy mills. What president signed the original bill in to law?

· Franklin Roosevelt.

· Lyndon Johnson. – Lyndon Johnson signed the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act, later shorted to the Animal Welfare Act, in to law on August 24^th, 1966.

· Richard Nixon.

· William Clinton.

2. One dog’s story is often credited with impacting America, and impacting Congress – both of which made it possible to pass the Animal Welfare Act. What was the name and breed of that dog?

· Pepper, a Dalmatian. – Stolen by dognappers in Pennsylvania, Peppers eventually ended up being euthanized after she was used in a medical experiment in a New York hospital.

· Tramp, a Cocker Spaniel.

· Feathers, an English Sheepdog.

· Old Red, a mixed breed hound.

3. Under the Animal Welfare Act, if an inspector finds a dog suffering from an untreated injury in a USDA licensed kennel, what can the inspector do to the breeder?

· He can prosecute the breeder for animal abuse/neglect.

· He can fine the breeder.

· He can give the breeder a written violation.. - The Animal Welfare Act and all of its rules and regulations are very complicated. In short, there are only three criminal charges that a licensed dog breeder can face. Those include dog fighting, stealing dogs, and abusing a USDA inspector. No matter how horrible the abuse of dogs in a USDA licensed kennel, it is NEVER a crime under the Animal Welfare Act.

· He can make the breeder take the dog to the vet.

4. Which U.S. state has more USDA licensed dog breeders than any other state?

Pennsylvania.
California.
Missouri. – Approximately 1/3 of all puppies sold in pet stores come from Missouri.
Oklahoma.

5. Can a person who has been convicted of animal abuse, neglect or cruelty (by a local or state court) keep their USDA license?

No, they must go through a background check every year and will lose their license if there was a conviction.
No, if they are convicted they must voluntarily surrender their USDA license.
Yes, the Animal Welfare Act doesn't address acts of cruelty under state laws.
Yes, someone can not obtain a new license within a year of a conviction, but once they have a license it doesn't matter what cruelty charges they are convicted of under a state law. - There is no provision in the law that allows USDA to revoke a license because of state animal cruelty convictions.

6. What is the limit of adult dogs that a kennel can have?

· 10 dogs for each full-time employee.

· 100 dogs per acre.

· There is no limit. – this is correct.

· No more than 1000 dogs per kennel.

7. USDA has a formula to determine the minimum cage size each dog must have for their “primary enclosure” (the place the most dogs will live their entire lives). The formula measures the dog from the tip of the nose, to the base of the tail. In a cage meeting USDA standards, if the dog stood at the back of the cage and began running towards the front of the cage, how far could it go before reaching the front of the cage?

Six inches. – All dogs, no matter the size or breed, must have a cage six inches wider and longer than the dog’s length. A dog that is 40 inches long could stand at the back and run six inches before reaching the front of the cage. A dog that is 10 inches long also has only six inches before reaching the front of the cage.
Twice its own length.
It would depend on the size of the dog, a larger dog would have further than a smaller dog.
Four times its length.

8. Most dogs in USDA licensed kennels are kept in raised, wire hutches, much like a rabbit cage. Any cage under six feet tall must have a cover to prevent the dog from escaping or something from getting in to the cage to harm the animal. How far must the cage top (usually wire like the rest of the cage) be from the top of the dog head?

It would depend on the size of the dog inside.
The dog must be able to stand on his back legs without his head touching the top of the cage.
The only requirement is that the dog’s head can’t touch the top of the cage when standing up in a normal position.
When standing in a normal position, there must be at least six inches above the head. -- Six inches above the head is the only requirement. This holds true whether the dog is a Chihuahua or a Great Dane.

9. USDA does address exercise for caged dogs. Two or more dogs in the same cage are considered exercise as long as each have the minimum space required. Twice the space required for the cage is also considered enough room for the dog to exercise if that dog is kept in a cage by itself. But, for the solitary dog, in the minimum cage size, what does USDA consider acceptable exercise for dogs?

The dogs must be given access to a yard so they can exercise at least 2 hours a day.
They must be walked on a leash at least ¼ of a mile each day.
They must be put on the ground and walked or allowed to run in a fenced area at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
The breeder must have an exercise plan on file, approved by their veterinarian. -- There is no way USDA can determine if the exercise plan is being followed and a breeder must simply have the plan on file. Research facilities are required to provide 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, but dog breeders do not have to meet this requirement.

10. Is it against the regulations for a USDA licensed kennel to sell puppies to a pet store before the age of eight weeks?

Yes, the Animal Welfare Act requires them to be eight weeks old.
No, as long as they are weaned and eating on their own.
No, as long as at least two puppies from the same litter are sold together so they can keep each other company.
No, they can be sold at any time to a pet store. – A loophole in the regulations allows puppies to be sold to a pet store at any age – the regulations only state that a USDA licensed breeder or broker can not transport puppies before the age of eight weeks. Since USDA does not regulate pet stores, only commercial breeders and brokers, a pet store can drive directly to a USDA licensed kennel and buy as many pups as they want, at any age, and transport them back to their pet store for sale.

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