Animal Welfare Professionals

On January 6, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) posted a notice regarding their upcoming plan to revamp regulations within the Animal Welfare Act.  Essentially it looks like the public awareness and outcry after the Tiger King phenomenon has led to pressure to reevaluate how regulations on captive exotics and wildlife are handled.  A side benefit of this is also to reevaluate the overall regulations regarding the standards of care, handling, and environmental enrichment for all species, including cats and dogs.

From now until March 10, 2023, everyone has the opportunity to submit comments to the USDA that will be considered when the organization writes its proposed rule for changes affecting those areas.  This can be anything and everything from general comments about the direction and need for protection of these animals, to specific changes you'd like to see. 

General comments are helpful in setting the tone and direction the USDA will take.  When looking at the actual language of the rule, the most helpful comments are ones that are clear and concise with individual needs and have references, resources, or research included in the comment to help offer the USDA a scientific basis or real world example behind why a specific requirement should be added into the rules.  Kathleen Summers from HSUS has also offered up her contact information at KSummers@humanesociety.org if you would like additional guidelines and info on what to write.  

If you are interested in submitting a comment, you can do so here at regulations.gov for the proposed rule.  Also at that link you can view all of the currently posted comments to get a better idea of what to submit.  On the other Document Details tab on that page, you can see the details and background behind the proposed rules.

You can be absolutely sure that the people on the other side of this rule who hunt, slaughter, abuse, and exploit these animals are also going to be making comments, so the more voices coming through on our end the better.
#LawsandPublicPolicy

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Jeff Okazaki
Humane Society of Jefferson County
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Thank you for this information! I have been following it as a supporter and I will share this information for more support and voices for the animals. I feel this regulation is far overdue in the welfare and treatment of animals and anxious for it to continue.

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Melissa Burg
Volunteer
Animal Disaster Services
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-24-2023 07:21 AM
From: Jeff Okazaki
Subject: Opportunity to Strengthen Regulations For Animal Enrichment and Handling

On January 6, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) posted a notice regarding their upcoming plan to revamp regulations within the Animal Welfare Act.  Essentially it looks like the public awareness and outcry after the Tiger King phenomenon has led to pressure to reevaluate how regulations on captive exotics and wildlife are handled.  A side benefit of this is also to reevaluate the overall regulations regarding the standards of care, handling, and environmental enrichment for all species, including cats and dogs.

From now until March 10, 2023, everyone has the opportunity to submit comments to the USDA that will be considered when the organization writes its proposed rule for changes affecting those areas.  This can be anything and everything from general comments about the direction and need for protection of these animals, to specific changes you'd like to see. 

General comments are helpful in setting the tone and direction the USDA will take.  When looking at the actual language of the rule, the most helpful comments are ones that are clear and concise with individual needs and have references, resources, or research included in the comment to help offer the USDA a scientific basis or real world example behind why a specific requirement should be added into the rules.  Kathleen Summers from HSUS has also offered up her contact information at KSummers@humanesociety.org if you would like additional guidelines and info on what to write.  

If you are interested in submitting a comment, you can do so here at regulations.gov for the proposed rule.  Also at that link you can view all of the currently posted comments to get a better idea of what to submit.  On the other Document Details tab on that page, you can see the details and background behind the proposed rules.

You can be absolutely sure that the people on the other side of this rule who hunt, slaughter, abuse, and exploit these animals are also going to be making comments, so the more voices coming through on our end the better.
#LawsandPublicPolicy

------------------------------
Jeff Okazaki
Humane Society of Jefferson County
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