Animal Protection Minnesota

There is no State law that licenses dog and cat breeders in Minnesota; therefore, Minnesota does not record how many commercial dog and cat breeders operate in our State.

Only breeders with four or more intact females and who sell wholesale (to brokers/pet stores, not directly to consumers) are required to be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA-licensed breeders represent only a fraction of breeders in Minnesota. With no State regulation, the exact number is difficult to determine.

As a point of reference, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recently conducted a five-month investigation to determine the number of breeders and breeding conditions in the State of Virginia. They found that “only 16 of Virginia’s more than 900 commercial puppy dealers hold federal licenses. Many of the rest…violate federal law when they sell their puppies to pet stores.” [Associated Press, November 2, 2007, Humane Society: Virginia is for puppy mills]

No investigation has yet been conducted to determine the depth and breadth of the dog and cat breeding industry in Minnesota.

USDA-licensed facilities in Minnesota

In 2007, there were 220 facilities in Minnesota licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Not all of these facilities breed dogs and cats. Some are:

• Breeders
These are breeders of dogs and cats as well as rabbits, birds, tigers or other animals; breeders buy the animals at auctions, from other breeders and dealers, or breed their own breeding stock. The USDA designates this group as ‘Class A’.

• Dealers/Brokers
This is the middleman who buys and sells the animals. It includes brokers (i.e. sells to pet stores), bunchers and operators of auction sales. The USDA designates this group as ‘Class B’.

• Exhibitors
This group shows or uses the animals for entertainment, such as circuses, zoos, etc.. The USDA designates this group as ‘Class C.’

• Carriers
This group transports the animals.

• Research facilities
These are research facilities, such as universities, medical facilities or businesses.

Further definitions and an explanation of who is exempt or not exempt from USDA licensing can be found on the USDA-APHIS website:

• Guidelines for Dealers, Exhibitors, Transporters, and Researchers
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/awlicreg.html

Of the 220 USDA-licensed facilities in Minnesota, approximately 118 are Class A and Class B license holders (breeders and dealers) in 2007. This number fluctuates as existing breeders may switch Classes (from A to B to A) or drop their license and sell directly to consumers through the Internet. New breeders may also apply, increasing the total number.