Unfortunately, there are some situations where pet owners can no longer continue to care for their animals. While owners may try their best to give their pets a second chance at having a forever home, they may be unwittingly putting them in situations where they can become the victims of Class B dealers.
Class B dealers are animal brokers who find and sell dogs and cats to schools and research institutions for a profit. Their methods of acquisition range from going to shelters, answering classified ads, and in some cases stealing pets who are left unattended outside. Class B dealers also buy animals from “bunchers,” who collect animals from random sources.
Class B dealers are regulated by the USDA and are responsible for following guidelines of care outlined by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). However, even the AWA only requires minimal care standards and there have been multiple violations where animals suffer with no food, water or veterinary care, among other issues, and there is little or no accountability.
“Currently, over half of the Class B Dealers selling random source animals to research labs are under investigation by the USDA for allegedly failing to comply with the law,” according to the ASPCA.
The Pet Safety and Protection Act, sponsored by Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Rep. Michael Doyle (D-PA), has been proposed to amend the AWA in order to ensure that animals used in research are obtained legally.
According to the ASPCA, if the Pet Safety and Protection Act is passed, the AWA would be amended so that the only people who would be allowed to sell dogs and cats to research facilities would be:
These categories of people are already allowed to sell to research. The Pet Safety and Protection Act would not change that or give them more rights than they currently have. This bill would eliminate Class B dealers and take away any incentive for others to illegally source animals for a profit.
While this may not help the thousands of animals who are legally obtained for research purposes, it will help animals like Cruella from unnecessary pain and suffering.
Read more: animal research, animal welfare, aspca, class b dealers, pet safety and protection act
creative commons
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Donate, volunteer, talk to anyone who'll listen. Women's rights across the board are on the line in this…
This should be illega. In my mind, this person is less of a man for doing this bear baiting. He s a…
Elaine A : Circus animals look healthy, don't they?
36 comments
+ add your ownShut them down!
we need harsher punishments for animal abusers!
thank you
NO ANIMALS,THE RESEARCH IS FOR HUMANS,USE HUMANS
"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men."
-- Leonardo Da Vinci
No cats, dogs, primates, or rabbits should be used in research.
In fact no animals should be used. There are better ways that can be used without the atrocities practiced on animals. Research results from animals do not translate to humans.
Anyone with a heart will take these articles and plights of the poor animals seriously.....sign petitions and leave comments.........speak out
They should stop this altogether.
Only in the most extremely ungent research cases should any animals be ussed.
Yeah, I agree w.the other posters here- why support a bill that still allows the experimentation to go on, at all,,,? We needs bills that prohibit animal experimentation completely!
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment
20