The Pet Safety & Protection Act
Pet Safety and Protection Act 2011 (PSPA) H.R.2256
Legislation would prevent stolen or stray dogs and cats
from being sold to researchers
The Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2011, H.R. 2256, introduced by Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), prohibits random-source Class B dealers from selling dogs and cats for use in research. An abuse-ridden system allows a small number of unscrupulous dealers to supply non-purpose-bred dogs and cats for use in research. So-called random source Class B dealers and their middleman cohorts, called "bunchers," acquire the dogs and cats they sell from a variety of sources. They routinely violate the Animal Welfare Act, obtain animals through fraud, deception, and outright theft (many are stolen companion animals), and falsify their records. They keep the animals in horrendous conditions.
The USDA spends countless taxpayer dollars each year unsuccessfully trying to regulate Class B dealers and have acknowledged that they can't guarantee that dogs and cats are not being illegally acquired for use in experiments.
The National Academies' Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR), which advises the federal government on issues related to animals used in research, released their report on May 29, 2009, entitled "Scientific and Humane Issues in the Use of Random-Source Dogs and Cats in Research." The report found that it is not necessary to obtain animals from Class B dealers for National Institute of Health research. All members of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) committee viewed LCA's HBO film "Dealing Dogs" as part of their deliberations, and LCA is recognized on page 83 of this report.
LCA urges everyone to call their representatives, telling them to support and co-sponsor the PSPA!
Send an email to your Representative
More information about the Pet Safety and Protection Act
Background of The Pet Safety and Protection Act - AKA "Buck's Bill"
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The PSPA is also known as “Buck’s Bill.” Buck was one of the many animals rescued by LCA during a 2003 raid of the nation’s most notorious Class “B” dealer, C.C. Baird. Extremely ill on the day of his rescue, Buck struggled with Stage 3 heartworm disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and parasitic pneumonia. His heart was paper-thin due to the heartworm. After his rescue, he was in such bad shape that he stayed at the vet clinic for seven months. When he was well enough, he went to a foster home where he lived until he died a few months later from internal hemorrhaging. All who knew Buck fell in love with him. “Buck’s Bill” serves to honor Buck and all the cats and dogs who die due to inadequate care and abuse at the hands of Class “B” dealers. |
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The PSPA clamps down on the unscrupulous animal dealers who steal companion animals for research. The PSPA prohibits the use in research of so-called “random source” dogs and cats obtained from Class B Dealers, who sell animals acquired from a variety of sources. Such random source animals are often stolen companion animals or those acquired fraudulently through "free to good home" ads or deceptive shelter adoptions, and include 18,000 to 19,000 dogs and cats per year. |
What is a Class B Dealer?
The PSPA will amend the Animal Welfare Act to ensure that all animals used in research are obtained legally by prohibiting USDA licensed Class “B” Dealers (like C.C. Baird) from supplying cats and dogs to research facilities.
Class “B” dealers are licensed to purchase and sell animals to research. The law has unfortunately allowed B Dealers to obtain animals for re-sale from other “B” dealers, shelters and from persons who have bred and raised the animals themselves.
However, as LCA proved in our historic undercover investigation, “B” dealers routinely violate the law by acquiring animals from fraudulent sources and abusing and neglecting them, as documented in HBO’s “Dealing Dogs”. These animals are often stolen pets, strays or animals obtained under false pretenses and deception through “free to good home” ads. It is virtually impossible to know the true history of an animal acquired by a Class “B” dealer, this is why the PSPA is vital! Each time a Class “B” dealer sells an animal to a research lab, a strong possibility exists that he or she is a lost or stolen family pet.
There are 9 random source Class “B” dog and cat dealers left that sell animals to research facilities. This is a fraction of what existed decades ago but still 9 too many. Please help to get rid of these remaining Class “B” Dealers.
Your Help is Needed to Pass Buck’s Bill!
To help ensure that Buck’s Bill, The Pet Safety & Protection Act, passes the U.S. House, please:
- Contact your representative by phone, e-mail, fax and mail – URGE them to cosponsor The Pet Safety and Protection Act. Call 1-888-VOTESMART or click here for Representative contact information.
Sample letter/phone call
Please make your calls and letters short and polite. Here is a sample:
“My name is (your name) and I’m (calling/writing) from (your city and state). As a constituent of (Representative’s name), I urge (Representative’s name) to cosponsor The Pet Safety and Protection Act (H.R. 2256). The bill calls for animal research facilities to obtain their animals legally, and not from Class “B” dealers. Class “B” dealers routinely violate the Animal Welfare Act by fraudulently obtaining animals and abusing and neglecting them. Thank you”. Suggest they visit www.dealingdogs.com for further information.
Make yourself a better activist for animals!
Educate yourself about the PSPA and pet theft by visiting www.dealingdogs.com.
Finally, donate to LCA and help us continue our battle against animal cruelty!
Learn more about: Dealing Dogs CC Baird Investigation
