Members of Congress Lobby to Strengthen Animal Welfare Act

THINK

Oct 20

The proposed legislation will make it easier for the government to remove animals in danger and will allow for civil action to be taken against animal abusers.

Senators, animal campaigners, and rescued beagles campaigning earlier this week for the new legislation. Credit: Meredith Lee/The HSUS

Members of Congress and animal welfare advocates are pushing for amendments to the Animal Welfare Act which seeks to hold animal abusers more accountable.

The bipartisan Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement (CARE) for Animals Act would strengthen the existing Animal Welfare Act. In particular, it would allow for civil action to be taken against animal abusers, and also make it easier for animals in danger to be removed.

This includes expanding the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) role in enforcement, and would allow for the DOJ to levy penalties against abusers, suspend and revoke their licenses, and remove or relocate animals who may be experiencing harmful treatment.

The move is inspired by a landmark case last year which saw the DOJ step in to help save and rescue over 4,000 beagles that were found neglected and mistreated at the Envigo Breeding Facility in Cumberland, Virginia. The facility was found to have violated dozens of federal regulations, with the dogs mistreated, underfed, injured, ill, or even dead.

Dogs rescued from the Envigo breeding facility attended the rally alongside their new families, including Millie, pictured here. Credit: Meredith Lee/The HSUS

Supporters of the new legislation say that the success of the DOJ’s unprecedented rescue of the thousands of beagles demonstrates the need to make it easier for the same to happen again in the future.

“There’s no telling what would have happened to [the 4,000 beagles] if the Department of Justice had not been able to step in to enforce federal law,” said Kitty Block, the CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). “We think it should be easier for the DOJ to do so in the future when Animal Welfare Act provisions concerning animals in laboratories, puppy mills and roadside zoos are not being followed.”

Current enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act is low due to “lax efforts” by the USDA, according to HSUS. If the new legislation passes and expands the enforcement authority of the DOJ, then there would be greater capabilities to enforce the Act and more resources than ever to help animals in need.

The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) in July. Senators and animal advocates held an event outside the U.S. Capitol Building this week to help rally support for the bill. Several of the beagles rescued from the Envigo facility, along with their new families, were present at the event.

Historic Rescue that Inspired the Bill

Envigo’s mass breeding facility in Virginia was at the center of various investigations by animal welfare NGOs and government officials during its years of operation.

Puppies being rescued during the rescue operation last year. Credit: The HSUS

Over a nine-month period, multiple public inspections by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) documented over 70 Animal Welfare Act violations at the breeding farm, prompting the Department of Justice to file a lawsuit against Envigo in May last year.

Inspectors had found that beagles there were being killed instead of receiving veterinary treatment for easily treated conditions; nursing mother beagles were denied food; the food that they did receive contained maggots, mold and feces; and over an eight-week period, 25 beagle puppies died from cold exposure. Other dogs suffered from injuries when they were attacked by other dogs in overcrowded conditions.

At the rescue operation last year. Credit: The HSUS

Envigo, which owned the facility, entered a consent decree with the government, which absolved the company from any wrongdoing, and resolved the issue by allowing the beagles to be safely removed from the facility. The breeding facility is now closed.

This led to a historic transfer in which the Department of Justice asked the HSUS to lead a massive rescue and rehoming operation to help save over 4,000 dogs from the Envigo-owned facility.

If passed, the Better CARE for Animals Act will help the DOJ act again on any similar cases of animal abuse in the future.

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