By law, the federal government sets a minimum standard of care for animals in commercial dog kennels. This section breaks down what the law states and the reality of its application.
Commercial dog breeders operate under the same principles as farmers. A farmer’s annual income depends on how much livestock they can raise and sell to consumers. Like livestock producers, breeders are inspected by the USDA, regulated under the AWA, and focused on maximizing the number of animals they can sell for profit. However, the AWA sets only minimal standards of care, just enough to keep animals alive, not necessarily healthy or well-treated. Therefore, a breeder must lower their overhead expenses and maximize the number of puppies each female dog can produce to generate income and profit from their investment.
Exercise
- Dogs housed individually: Dogs over 12 weeks of age, except bitches with litters, housed, held, or maintained by any dealer, exhibitor, or research facility, including federal research facilities, must be provided the opportunity for exercise regularly if they are kept individually in cages, pens, or runs that provide less than two times the required floor space for that dog.
- Dogs housed in groups: Dogs over 12 weeks of age housed, held, or maintained in groups by any dealer, exhibitor, or research facility, including federal research facilities, do not require additional opportunity for exercise regularly if they are maintained in cages, pens, or runs that provide in total at least 100 percent of the required space for each dog if maintained separately.
- The opportunity for exercise may be provided in several ways, such as:
- Group housing in cages, pens or runs that provide at least 100 percent of the required space for each dog if maintained separately under the minimum floor space requirements from above.
- Maintaining individually housed dogs in cages, pens, or runs that provide at least twice the minimum floor space from requirements above.
- Providing access to a run or open area at the frequency and duration prescribed by the attending veterinarian, or other similar activities.
Translation:
- One dog can spend its entire life in a crate that is only twice the size of the dog itself, without anyone ever having to even open the door to the crate except to feed it and give it water.
- More than one dog can be kept in a crate that is minimum twice the size of each individual dog within that crate. No veterinary exercise requirements because the dogs can run around together for exercise.
Both of these options comply with federal regulations and are completely legal.
Temperature
Indoor housing facilities:
- When dogs or cats are present, the ambient temperature in the facility must not fall below 50 °F for dogs and cats not acclimated to lower temperatures, for those breeds that cannot tolerate lower temperatures without stress or discomfort (such as short-haired breeds), and for sick, aged, young, or infirm dogs and cats, except as approved by the attending veterinarian. Dry bedding, solid resting boards, or other methods of conserving body heat must be provided when temperatures are below 50 °F. The ambient temperature must not fall below 45 °F for more than 4 consecutive hours when dogs or cats are present, and must not rise above 85 °F for more than 4 consecutive hours when dogs or cats are present. Ventilation must be provided by windows, vents, fans, or air conditioning. Auxiliary ventilation, such as fans, blowers, or air conditioning must be provided when the ambient temperature is 85°F or higher. The relative humidity must be maintained at a level that ensures the health and well-being of the dogs or cats housed therein, in accordance with the directions of the attending veterinarian and generally accepted professional and husbandry practices.
Translation: If the temperature dips below 45 degrees, the kennel is following regulations, as long as it’s under 4 hours that the dogs are exposed to the conditions. If the temperature goes above 85 degrees, the breeder must turn on a fan. A dog living in these conditions to become a companion animal should consume a high-end diet with the option to escape the extreme temperatures. Without providing an escape and proper nutrition, the dog can develop behavioral issues from stress.
Food
Dogs and cats must be fed at least once each day, except as otherwise might be required to provide adequate veterinary care. The food must be uncontaminated, wholesome, palatable, and of sufficient quantity and nutritive value to maintain the normal condition and weight of the animal. The diet must be appropriate for the individual animal’s age and condition.
Translation: The AWA doesn’t specify food that is wholesome and has nutritional value. Therefore, any dry kibble that can be bought in bulk can be fed to the dogs once a day, based on the bare minimum needed to sustain life. This does not take into consideration that different breeds have different nutritional needs.
Water
Potable water must be continuously available to the dogs, unless restricted by the attending veterinarian.
Translation: Breeders only need to offer the dogs water twice a day (regardless of temperature) for one hour each time. When a breeder has 200 dogs on site, how does this need get met? They can use PVC pipes that drip water into the cage for the dog to drink from a spout similar to how a gerbil obtains its water. The anatomy of a dog does not allow it to coat its tongue and drink like it was designed to do, which could lead to dehydration.
Flooring
Primary enclosures equipped with mesh or wire floors shall be so constructed as to allow feces to pass through the spaces of the mesh or wire. Provided, however, that such floors shall be constructed to protect the animals’ feet and legs from injury.
Translation: Commercial kennels can stack the crates so that the feces falls to the dog below and eventually to the floor. This allows for the busy breeder to hose the feces and urine from the floor while still following the AWA standards.
Breeding
There are no limitations on how many times a dog can be bred in one year or for the duration of her lifetime.
Translation: Dogs can breed:
- Until they die
- Until the owner surrenders, throws them away, or kills them
- Until the owner retires them as pets
Cage Size
The AWA uses a formula to calculate a kennel size for a dog. The minimum space requirement for a single dog is 6 inches longer than the dog itself and 6 inches taller than the dog’s full height when standing.
Translation: The dog can spend its entire life in a crate that is just big enough for them to turn around and lie back down.
Staff:Puppy Ratio
Under the AWA, there is no staff to puppy ratio for commercial breeders. A lot of commercial breeders set up PVC pipes for water, feed them once a day and hose the crates down. There are no standards listed under the AWA for socialization.
Translation: Your puppy may come from a facility that has hundreds of puppies and only a handful of staff. There are no laws regulating how many need to be on staff to care for puppies and their mothers.
*Most puppies in pet stores and online sites come from commercial breeders.
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📗 To go deeper into the world of commercial dog breeding, Fetch the Facts recommends the book: