Support The Canine Care Act

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The Canine Care Act clearly defines standards to be upheld by any business dealing in the care of canine companion animals

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If put into motion, the Canine Care Act will require that staff is properly trained,

employers are transparent, and the dogs left in their care are protected.

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The current draft of the Canine Care Act can be found here.

The accompanying Kennel Inspection report for Canine Care facilities can be found here.

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If you have been affected by unlawful or unsafe practices at a canine care facility, contact us to share your experience.

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Below are the main principles that I hope to integrate into U.S. standards for operating Canine Care Facilities. 

If you would like to see these policies enforced in a care facility near you, please visit our virtual petition here.

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• Canine Care Facilities must clearly display the maximum number of dogs allowed on the premises.

 

• All dogs must be observed by trained and competent staff. Each staff member should have fifteen dogs or fewer to care for.

 

• There must be a record of all staff training; Staff must be trained in:​

  • First aid, welfare, handling, and behavior 

  • Hygiene, feeding, and preparing foods

  • preventing and controlling canine diseases

 

• Changes in behavior must be recorded, and the owner must be told if there are signs of Suffering, Stress, Fear, Aggression, or Anxiety

 

• The license holder must provide and ensure the implementation of a written training policy for all staff, including the license holder. The training policy must be reviewed and updated annually and must include an annual appraisal, planned continued professional development, and recognition of any knowledge gaps.

 

• All areas, equipment, and appliances that animals can access must present minimal risks. They must be constructed with materials that are safe, durable, and well-maintained. 

 

• Where there is a pest problem, a pest control program must be put into place.

 

• All animals must be checked at least once daily or more regularly as necessary to check for any signs of pain, suffering, injury, disease, or abnormal behavior. Any signs of pain, suffering, injury, disease, or abnormal behavior must be recorded and acted upon.

 

• A facility must create a written program that shows how they provide an enriching environment. 

 

• A written emergency plan, acceptable to the local authority, must be in place, known, and available to everyone on the premises. It must cover the following to ensure appropriate steps are taken to protect all the people and animals on the premises:

  • Electrical and General Fires 

  • Breakdowns of essential heating, ventilation, and aeration or filtration systems

  • abnormal weather conditions and other foreseeable emergencies.

 

• Written procedures must be in place and implemented covering:

  • feeding and cleaning regimes

  • Transportation

  • the prevention of and control of the spread of disease

  • monitoring and ensuring the health and welfare of all the animals

  • the death or escape of an animal (including the storage of carcasses)

  • care of the animals during and following an emergency

 

• For home-based canine care: If any person under 16 years resides at the home, there must be procedures to regulate the interactions between the dogs and that person. 

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Thank you for your attention and consideration; Any and all feedback and assistance are greatly appreciated.

The current petition to escalate and implement this policy can be found here.