Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association

Position Statement on Regulation of Dog and Cat Breeders

The Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association would support Regulating Dog and Cat Breeders under the following guidelines:

· All breeders should comply with existing federal, state and local animal welfare and animal cruelty laws.

· The Board of Animal Health is the overseeing body for inspection and enforcement of breeder legislation. It is essential that the Board be given adequate resources to perform this function including appropriate initial funding.

· The size of the breeding operation does not determine the quality of the facility, and any facility regardless of size, may be inspected upon valid complaint.

· Animal shelters, humane societies, animal auctions should be subject to the same regulation and inspection requirements as breeding operations.

Important Dog and Cat health care practices:

· To minimize behavioral problems, including aggression, puppies between 3 weeks and 14 weeks of age should be socialized to a variety of people, animals and environments.

· Cats and Dogs require daily exercise.

· Animals should be provided with appropriate health care including: Nutrition appropriate to life cycle and life style, control and treatment of parasites, appropriate immunizations, diagnosis and disease specific treatments in consultation with a licensed veterinarian.

· Certificate of Veterinarian Inspection (CVI) should be required for the sale of dogs and cats, including testing for brucellosis of intact adult dogs.

The MVMA has a legislative review process in place for evaluating all meaningful and constructive legislative proposals pertaining to this issue.