Puppy Protection Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Fitzpatrick
In Committee
Summary
This bill would create comprehensive welfare standards for dogs held by dealers. It sets detailed minimums for housing, food and water, exercise, socialization, veterinary care, breeding practices, and retirement placement.
Show full summary
- Dogs and families: Dogs would get solid-floor housing, minimum indoor space starting at 12 square feet for small dogs, and temperature controls between 45 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit while present. Continuous clean potable water would be required.
- Dealers and breeders: Dealers would have to provide meaningful daily socialization for at least 30 minutes and follow breeding limits including a lifetime cap of 6 litters plus age-based restrictions to reduce early or late breeding risks.
- Regulators and retirements: The Secretary must issue final regulations within 18 months and dealers must make reasonable efforts to place retired breeding dogs with adopters or rescues rather than auctions or resale for breeding.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 1 mixed.
Limits on breeding and litter counts for dog breeders
If enacted, dog breeders would face tighter breeding limits and health checks. A licensed vet would screen for prevalent inheritable diseases before each breeding and must clear the dog to proceed. A female could not produce more than 2 litters in any 25‑month period or more than 6 litters in her life. Small breeds under 40 pounds could not be bred before 18 months or after 9 years; large breeds 40 pounds or more could not be bred before 2 years or after 7 years. Any canine C‑section would have to be done by a licensed veterinarian.
Required vet care and records for dog dealers
If enacted, dog dealers would have to provide and document veterinary care. Minor injuries would be treated promptly, and any significant signs of disease or injury would require quick diagnosis and care by a licensed vet. Each dog would get a hands‑on exam at least once a year, including a basic dental check. Dealers would give core vaccines per the most recent AAHA guidelines at enactment and vet‑approved preventives for worms, heartworm, fleas, and ticks. Dealers would keep written records of all care.
Stricter space and exercise rules for dog dealers
If enacted, dog dealers would have to upgrade housing and daily care. Enclosures would need solid floors, could not be stacked, and must let the tallest dog stand on hind legs. For dogs over 8 weeks, minimum indoor space per dog would be 12, 20, or 30 square feet based on body length. When dogs are present, rooms would stay between 45°F and 85°F, with control suited to age, breed, and condition. Dogs over 12 weeks would have free access to a ground‑level, solid‑surface outdoor exercise area, except at night or in severe weather; a vet could prescribe an alternative plan for medical needs. Dealers would give clean, unfrozen water at all times, feed at least twice daily unless a vet orders fasting, provide at least 30 minutes of daily socialization, and house dogs together unless a vet says it is unsafe.
USDA to finalize dog care rules in 18 months
If enacted, the Secretary of Agriculture would have to issue final dog care rules within 18 months of enactment. Those rules would turn these standards into enforceable regulations for dealers. The deadline would speed when dealers must follow the final rules.
Humane placements for retired breeding dogs
If enacted, dealers retiring breeding dogs would need to seek humane placements. They would try to place dogs with adoptive families, rescue groups, or other appropriate owners. Selling retired breeders at auction or placing them with another breeder for breeding would be barred.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Cosponsors
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Reschenthaler
PA • R
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Panetta
CA • D
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Castro (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 3/31/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Beyer
VA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Gimenez
FL • R
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Sykes
OH • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Underwood
IL • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Doggett
TX • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Garcia (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Malliotakis
NY • R
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Horsford
NV • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Tran
CA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Cohen
TN • D
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Chu
CA • D
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Soto
FL • D
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Neal
MA • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Tokuda
HI • D
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Buchanan
FL • R
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Perez
WA • D
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Kim
CA • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Titus
NV • D
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Luna
FL • R
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Foster
IL • D
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Scholten
MI • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
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Ross
NC • D
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Nadler
NY • D
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Huffman
CA • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Cleaver
MO • D
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Ryan
NY • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Casten
IL • D
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Torres (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Evans (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Scott, David
GA • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
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McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Carter (LA)
LA • D
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Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Sherman
CA • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Raskin
MD • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Sherrill
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Himes
CT • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Omar
MN • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 4/14/2025
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2025
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 4/14/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 4/21/2025
McClain Delaney
MD • D
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Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Jayapal
WA • D
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Frost
FL • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Schneider
IL • D
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Thanedar
MI • D
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Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 6/11/2025
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Liccardo
CA • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Goodlander
NH • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Pou
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 7/22/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 7/22/2025
Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Morelle
NY • D
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Bynum
OR • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
DeGette
CO • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Stanton
AZ • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Davids (KS)
KS • D
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Correa
CA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Walkinshaw
VA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Lee (NV)
NV • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Kiley (CA)
CA • R
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Mace
SC • R
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Lawler
NY • R
Sponsored 10/10/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Escobar
TX • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Scanlon
PA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Boyle (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Dean (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Sorensen
IL • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Pingree
ME • D
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Gillen
NY • D
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Subramanyam
VA • D
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Espaillat
NY • D
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Gonzalez, V.
TX • D
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McDonald Rivet
MI • D
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McBride
DE • D
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Menendez
NJ • D
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Nunn (IA)
IA • R
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Pettersen
CO • D
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Takano
CA • D
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Norcross
NJ • D
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McBath
GA • D
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Crockett
TX • D
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Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
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Landsman
OH • D
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Casar
TX • D
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Suozzi
NY • D
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Dexter
OR • D
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Strickland
WA • D
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Goldman (NY)
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Trahan
MA • D
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Aguilar
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Ivey
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Neguse
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Salinas
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Min
CA • D
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DeSaulnier
CA • D
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Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
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Jack
GA • R
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Bonamici
OR • D
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Wilson (FL)
FL • D
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Matsui
CA • D
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Mackenzie
PA • R
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Bera
CA • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Courtney
CT • D
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Johnson (TX)
TX • D
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Smith (NJ)
NJ • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Stevens
MI • D
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Mannion
NY • D
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Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Fields
LA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Smith (WA)
WA • D
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Carbajal
CA • D
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Frankel, Lois
FL • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Torres (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Hoyer
MD • D
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Keating
MA • D
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Pallone
NJ • D
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Moskowitz
FL • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Scott (VA)
VA • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Vasquez
NM • D
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Balint
VT • D
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Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Bell
MO • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
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Carey
OH • R
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Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 12/5/2025
Kaptur
OH • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Joyce (OH)
OH • R
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Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Olszewski
MD • D
Sponsored 12/12/2025
DeLauro
CT • D
Sponsored 12/12/2025
Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Pappas
NH • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Sanchez
CA • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Castor (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 12/19/2025
Whitesides
CA • D
Sponsored 1/6/2026
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
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