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119-hr-10910119th CongressWALLET

Dunkin’s Law

Sponsored By: Representative Gallagher, James [R-CA-1]

Introduced

Summary

Federal private right of action for harm to companion animals in commercial pet facilities. The bill expands the Animal Welfare Act to recognize certain household pets as “sentient beings” and defines covered commercial pet services like boarding, daycare, training, grooming, and overnight care.

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  • Owners and families: Owners can sue in federal court if a sentient being is harmed, neglected, or dies while in a commercial pet facility. Recoverable damages include veterinary expenses, replacement value, the animal’s pain and suffering, and the owner’s emotional distress, plus court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
  • Commercial pet facilities: The bill creates a clear list of covered facilities and services. It also lets courts apply liability when a facility is convicted of unlawfully euthanizing a sentient being under the laws where it operates.
  • Courts and legal practice: The change creates a federal tort-like claim under the Animal Welfare Act. Federal courts will determine damages and the amount of fees and costs awarded.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New federal lawsuits for pet harm

If enacted, the bill would let an owner sue in federal court if a covered pet is harmed, neglected, or dies while a paid pet-care business has it. A court would be able to award vet bills, replacement value, the pet’s pain and suffering, the owner’s emotional distress, and reasonable court costs and attorney fees. An entity described in section 28(a)(2)(A) or (B) would count as a covered pet facility for this claim if that entity is convicted of unlawfully euthanizing the animal under state or local law where it operates. Damages would be decided by the federal court; the bill does not set fixed award amounts.

Rules for paid pet-care businesses

If enacted, the bill would add “sentient being” to the Animal Welfare Act and define it as a domesticated mammal kept as a household companion, like dogs, cats, and rabbits. It would explicitly exclude livestock, poultry, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and arachnids. The bill would define boarding, daycare, training, grooming, overnight care, and other paid services as activities that make a business a “commercial pet facility.” Those definitions would determine which animals and businesses are covered by the new protections and private lawsuits.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Gallagher, James [R-CA-1]

CA • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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