If you are interested in animal welfare and protection for household pets, these upcoming bills are the ones to know about.
Currently, organizations are working to raise awareness and support of the bills to get them onto the floor of Congress for votes. Some have been denied year after year and are returning for congressional approval in 2021.
Puppy Protection Act
This bill (H.R. 2442/S. 4757) is focused on dogs in federally licensed breeding operations, often called "puppy mills."
While these facilities need a license, there isn't much regulation over the conditions the dogs are kept in. This act would:
- Set standards of care and exercise
- Ban stacked cages
- Set size standards for cages
- Set veterinary care standards
- Require socialization
- Ban extreme temperature exposure
Interested in helping? You can contact senators and representatives through the Humane Society of the United States.
Humane Cosmetics Act
This bill (H.R.5141) is aimed at ending animal testing for cosmetics across the United States. Over a dozen FDA-approved alternatives are available for these tests. Many are cost-effective and provide information earlier in the process.
You can help by showing support for the bill.
The Pet Safety and Protection Act
Another important bill seeking approval protects both stray animals and lost pets from being rounded up and sold to labs for animal testing. The act (H.R.689) aims to:
- Stop animals from being sold to labs by Class B dealers
- Prevent random sourcing of dogs and cats that may be lost family pets
- Remove any financial incentive for providing animals to labs -- which can lead to illegal methods for acquiring dogs and cats
There are other available methods to provide animals to labs, which are still problematic but don't include strays and lost pets.
This act aims to protect pets, regulate Class B dealers, and stop the illegal lab animal trade.
Want to get involved? Learn more at the Animal Welfare Institute.
Looking Ahead at Animal Welfare Bills
These acts involve animal welfare topics that are often denied due to lack of support from large organizations or a business's financial drive.
If the bills pass, they will help change the face of puppy mills, cosmetic development, and animal testing in the United States.
