 On 2/3/17, citing "privacy
issues," the USDA removed from its website all inspection reports,
research facility annual reports, regulatory correspondence, and enforcement
reports on thousands of facilities regulated under the federal Animal Welfare
Act (AWA) and Horse Protection Act (HPA). These facilities include commercial
dog breeding operators, Tennessee Walking horse show participants, roadside
zoos, research labs and other facilities. SInce there was no longer a need for
it, the Animal Care Search Tool, critical for finding individual reports, was
also removed.
These
taxpayer- funded reports are public record, and they are essential for
protecting animals from exploitation and abuse. We need to know that AWA and
HPA licensees are complying with federal law and are being held accountable for
their actions. It seems to us that the removal of this information only serves
to protect people and businesses who genuinely have something to hide.
The
lists of USDA- licensed breeders and dealers, as well as inspection reports of
licensed facilities, have been a very valuable tool to WPMP in the past. Among
other things, they have helped us in our push for
Act 90 - WI Dog Program here in
Wisconsin, in our efforts for state regulation of roadside zoos and ownership
of exotic pets, and in our education about where pet store puppies really come
from. They are invaluable to consumers researching a breeder before buying a
puppy. Plus, a number of states relied on the USDA inspection reports as part
of the process pet shops were required to use for accepting puppies for resale.
There should be NOTHING private
about animal abuse -- and those with excellent records should be happy to share
them.
All of
the reports, of course, are still available by filing a Freedom Of Information
Act (FOIA) request, but The Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project is joining the HSUS,
ASPCA, and many other local and national animal welfare advocates in strongly
urging the USDA to restore easy access to AWA/HPA information to the public!
 What can
YOU do to help get these records, and the searchable database, back on the USDA
website?
Make phone calls!
Call both your U.S Senators
and your U.S. Representative (find their contact info
here): All you need to say is: "My name is
[ ]. I am a constituent from [town, zip code]. I
do not need a response. I am opposed to the USDA removal of all inspection
reports on facilities regulated under the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and
Horse Protection Act (HPA). These reports are paid for by taxpayers, and are
essential for protecting animals from exploitation and abuse. I encourage [Sen.
or Rep. name] to support immediate restoration of these records to the USDA
website. Thank you for your hard work answering the phones!"
Call the USDA at
844-820-2234. All you need to say is: "My name is
[ ], and I live in [state]. I am shocked and
outraged that the USDA removed all inspection reports on thousands of
commercial dog breeding operators, Tennessee Walking horse show participants,
roadside zoos, research labs and other facilities regulated under the federal
Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and Horse Protection Act (HPA). Not only are these
reports paid for by taxpayers, but they are essential for protecting animals
from exploitation and abuse. There is no justifiable reason for these public
records to not be posted online. Please restore them, as well as the searchable
database for accessing them, as soon as possible. Thank you for your
time."
Tweet! Sample tweets, courtesy of the HSUS:
.@USDA animal welfare
records are taxpayer funded. Restore now. #noblackout.
Animal abusers should not be
protected @USDA. Restore all records now. #noblackout.
.@USDA do not hide animal
abusers and their cruel actions. Restore animal welfare records now.
#noblackout.
.<@yourlegislators
TwitterHandle> please urge @USDA to restore all animal welfare
records.#noblackout
Sign a Petition (There are several to
choose from):
FOR MORE INFORMATON:
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