Paws Up!
March 18, 2020
To House Representatives Charlie Christ (D-FL) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) for introducing H.R. 5715 that will provide transparency by breeders and retail stores for individuals who are purchasing cats or dogs.
Acquiring a new furry companion is a wonderful experience that can turn from a happy occasion to a sad one if the dog or cat purchased has a hidden health condition. Some commercial breeders knowingly sell sick puppies or kittens because of greed. This mindset fuels the blatant disregard they have for their animals’ well-being, who are housed in cramped, filthy conditions. Often, these animals are not given appropriate exercise, socialization, or veterinary care, which results in puppies or kittens who may have poor health that is undisclosed at the time of purchase. These health problems can, sadly, result in death or high veterinary expenses.
Florida Representative Charlie Crist and Pennsylvania Representative Guy Reschenthaler have introduced House Bill 5715, also known as the Petfax Act of 2020, which would require commercial breeders to provide transparent information about their facility and their animals upon sale to pet retailers. The pet retailers would then, in turn, be required to provide the following information to individuals before the sale of any of their cats or dogs:
- Breeder’s information–name, address, phone number, the Department of Agriculture license number
- Date of birth
- Record of the most recent examination by a licensed veterinarian, or disclosure if none was given
- Vaccination records, if applicable
- Congenital issues
- Infections or diseases
Disclosing this information upfront hopes to give pet purchasers peace of mind that they are acquiring a healthy pet.
Take Action: Show your support for the Petfax Act of 2020 by contacting your representative today to help stop this deception by commercial breeders.