From the Animal Legal Defense Fund comes the following statement:
"The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is considering changes to the way it grants Animal Welfare Act (AWA) licenses to animal breeders, dealers, and exhibitors and has opened a public comment period.
"Currently, the USDA does not consider a licensee’s history of violations or noncompliance with the AWA when licenses are up for renewal. In fact, it will reissue the license even if presented with compelling evidence that the facility is violating the law.
"If proposed changes are implemented, licensees would have to prove compliance with the AWA before a license was reissued, along with additional safeguards for animals."
This has been a tragic situations for animals living in roadside zoos and other similar places. I know for a fact such violations have been going on at a roadside zoo in the western part of my state, Virginia, for now over 20 years. What good are these laws if not enforced.
Here is link to their alert:
http://aldf.org/blog/tell-usda-stop-rubber-stamping-animal-welfare-act-licenses/
If the government site doesn't work. which it didn't for me you can e- mail the USDA directly by clicking on this link:
https://www.usda.gov/ask-expert
then click on "Submit a Question" and follow the instructions.
"The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is considering changes to the way it grants Animal Welfare Act (AWA) licenses to animal breeders, dealers, and exhibitors and has opened a public comment period.
"Currently, the USDA does not consider a licensee’s history of violations or noncompliance with the AWA when licenses are up for renewal. In fact, it will reissue the license even if presented with compelling evidence that the facility is violating the law.
"If proposed changes are implemented, licensees would have to prove compliance with the AWA before a license was reissued, along with additional safeguards for animals."
This has been a tragic situations for animals living in roadside zoos and other similar places. I know for a fact such violations have been going on at a roadside zoo in the western part of my state, Virginia, for now over 20 years. What good are these laws if not enforced.
Here is link to their alert:
http://aldf.org/blog/tell-usda-stop-rubber-stamping-animal-welfare-act-licenses/
If the government site doesn't work. which it didn't for me you can e- mail the USDA directly by clicking on this link:
https://www.usda.gov/ask-expert
then click on "Submit a Question" and follow the instructions.
