[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 154 (Thursday, October 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PET SAFETY AND PROTECTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL F. DOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 22, 2009

  Mr. DOYLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the Pet Safety 
and Protection Act--legislation that I believe is essential to protect 
family pets, bring our nation's research policies into the 21st 
century, and end the unnecessary and illegal abuse of cats and dogs 
that's widespread in the Class B dealer system, which provides a number 
of animals to biomedical research labs.
  Class B dealers are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to 
acquire animals from ``random sources,'' including individuals who 
claim to have bred and raised the animals, but oftentimes haven't 
actually done so. Then the dogs and cats are sold to labs across the 
country that conduct important biomedical research.
  Most scientists agree that animals with certain genetic 
characteristics or medical conditions are necessary for some types of 
medical research. So-called random sources are often the best sources 
for such animals. Unfortunately, the Class B dealer system that was set 
up to address this need has been plagued by widespread and flagrant 
violations of the Animal Welfare Act--including complaints that family 
pets have been swept up and sent to labs and used in biomedical 
research.
  While USDA has tried to monitor Class B dealers and make sure these 
laws are followed, it simply has never had the resources to ensure the 
dealers' compliance. USDA's efforts, have, however, resulted in a 
number of investigations that forced many bad dealers out of the 
business. Today, 7 of the 10 remaining licensed Class B dealers are 
being investigated for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act. An 
additional dealer has had his license suspended for 5 years.
  That record should give anyone an idea of the magnitude of the 
problems that exist in the current Class B dealer program. If anyone 
still doubts the need for action, I urge them to watch a 2006 HB0 
program documenting in graphic, disturbing detail the inhumane and 
illegal treatment of animals by Class B dealers. This remarkable 
documentary contains video footage shot undercover in a Class B 
dealer's facility. Among the abuses documented in this film are 
overcrowded cages, rotten food, food contaminated with feces, frozen 
drinking water, dogs with serious untreated injuries and diseases, and 
live dogs caged with the carcasses of dead dogs. This investigation 
also documented the beating, strangulation, and shooting of dogs by a 
Class B dealer.
  I have been working for a number of years to pass legislation that 
would change the way animals with random source characteristics are 
acquired for biomedical research. This legislation, the Pet Safety and 
Protection Act, would prohibit the sale of dogs and cats by Class B 
dealers for experimentation. Its goal is to stop the illegal supply of 
dogs and cats to laboratories--as was intended when the Animal Welfare 
Act was first adopted by Congress in 1966. The Pet Safety and 
Protection Act also provides an alternative to Class B dealers for 
acquiring such animals. Research labs could acquire them from Class A 
dealers, from certain publicly owned and operated animal pounds, and 
through donations from people who have owned the animal for at least a 
year. I believe that this law would end the abuses running rampant in 
the Class B dealer system and make the process for acquiring animals 
necessary for medical research far more humane.
  This legislation has the strong support of the Animal Welfare 
Institute and the Humane Society of the United States.
  In previous years, this bill has been derailed by concerns that it 
might prevent or delay life-saving biomedical research. Consequently, 
the 110th Congress directed the National Academies to examine the issue 
and determine whether the Class B dealer system should be continued. 
Earlier this summer, the National Academies released its report on the 
Class B dealer system. The National Academies concluded that:

       Although random source dogs and cats represent a very small 
     percentage of animals used in biomedical research, this small 
     number is not commensurate with their potential value, and it 
     is desirable to assure continued access to animals with 
     random source qualities. This access can be accomplished with 
     existing alternative mechanisms other than Class B dealers 
     and can be assured with additional effort. The Committee thus 
     determined that Class B dealers are not necessary for 
     supplying dogs and cats for NIH-funded research.

  I believe that the National Academies study puts to rest any 
remaining concerns about the desirability of eliminating the Class B 
dealer system.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, let me reiterate my belief that enactment 
of the Pet Safety and Protection Act is necessary to end the inhumane 
and illegal treatment of animals acquired and sold by Class B dealers, 
protect families' pets from being used for biomedical research without 
their permission, and achieve those goals without hindering essential 
biomedical research. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this long 
overdue legislation.

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