For dog and cat breeders licensed under the USDA-APHIS, there are specific roles and responsibilities of facility owners and attending veterinarians. Specifically, each facility must employ an attending veterinarian on a full-time, part-time or consulting basis, and this veterinarian must prepare a written program of veterinarian care.

Without a plan, the kennel cannot obtain a license from the United States Department of Agriculture.

As stated by the USDA (see link below): “Under the Animal Welfare Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) requires that all persons who use animals in research or for exhibition, sell them at the wholesale level, or transport them in commerce provide these animals with adequate veterinary care and animal husbandry. Toward this end, APHIS requires the owner of each licensed and registered facility to establish a formal program of veterinary care.”

• Animal Care/USDA - Ensuring Adequate Veterinary Care: Roles and Responsibilities of Facility Owners and Attending Veterinarians
• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
  

The fact that dogs and cats continue to be harmed, through neglect or deliberate abuse, within breeding facilities, explains why animal advocates are disturbed by the complacency of certain veterinarians, and by the lack of enforcement from the USDA. The breeder makes money, but so too does the breeder’s veterinarian.

Dog and cat breeder legislation, if heard and approved by Minnesota legislators, would authorize the State of Minnesota to set humane breeding and care standards, inspect facilities (both USDA-licensed and non-licensed), enforce standards and impose penalties for those who violate standards.