Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act

New rules for animal dealers and exhibitors

If enacted, businesses that sell or exhibit animals would need a federal license renewed every year. Applications would have to include an inventory of all animals and pay a fee set by the Secretary. New applicants could have at most two inspections within 90 days; a failed second inspection would deny the application and bar reapplying for one year. Existing license-holders would need an unannounced annual inspection showing compliance and no more than one documented noncompliance in the prior two years. The Secretary could not license applicants with animal-law violations or when licensing would let them skirt state ownership bans. Attending veterinarians would have to visit each site at least once every 12 months and give annual exams, vaccinations, parasite control, and species-appropriate preventive care per an approved schedule. The Secretary could exempt very small "de minimis" businesses from the rule.