USDA Releases Animal Welfare, Horse Protection Act Annual Report

WASHINGTON --The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released the 2007 Animal Care Annual Report of Activities.  This report provides a wealth of information about USDA’s enforcement of both the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Horse Protection Act (HPA).  The report also highlights projects and activities conducted by USDA to support the administration of the AWA and HPA.

In addition, the report contains a summary of related regulatory and legislative actions taken since the AWA and HPA became law, a section on USDA’s emergency management responsibilities regarding household pets, figures from research annual reports and detailed enforcement data.  The report is available at: www.aphis.usda.gov/publications.

USDA enforces the AWA and HPA.  Under the AWA, USDA issues licenses and registrations to certain animal businesses and researchers and then regularly conducts inspections to ensure proper animal care and treatment.  To enforce the HPA, USDA and other designated persons examine the limbs of exhibited horses for signs that pain has been inflicted to alter their gaits.  USDA has the authority to impose penalties when the law is violated.  For more information on the AWA and HPA, please visit aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare.

Source: www.aphis.usda.gov