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WHAT DO TDLR INSPECTORS LOOK FOR AT A BREEDER FACILITY?
BY DOUG VANPELT
“My main concern at a breeding • proper shelter and housing facility is the condition of the facilities including temperature dogs” – James McEachern, and climate considerations; TDLR inspector. • maintaining proper documents; “Dog and Cat Breeding • proper display of TDLR is Regulated in Texas” is the license; and slogan of the Licensed Breeder • unsafe or dangerous conditions. program at the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Examples of the top violations (TDLR). The agency strives to typically found during an spread awareness across the state inspection include: about the laws and rules on the • Surfaces of non-porous books in Texas for both dog and material (most commonly cat breeding. Educating the public unfinished wood). about these requirements helps • Not following the standards of ensure the health and safety of veterinary care related to the animals can be protected, and breeding cycles. Texas consumers can make better• No required contract provisions informed choices when purchasing in each contract for the sale of a a dog or cat. puppy or kitten. All breeders subject to the Dog • Not providing property shelter or or Cat Breeders Act must pass housing facilities. an initial inspection before they • This can include everything can obtain a license from TDLR. from not providing proper shade Once they are licensed, each coverings to having sharp edges facility is inspected at least once that could hurt the animals. every 18 months. The Dog or Cat • Not following the proper exercise Breeders Act, passed in 2011, can requirements for daily exercise. be found on the TDLR website • No personnel on-site or no at: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/bre/ properly trained personnel onsite brelaw.htm for the required time periods. The agency’s administrative • Failure to perform required yearly rules, which clarify the do’s and examinations and/or not keeping don’ts of the Act, can be found at: proper records of required https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/bre/ yearly examinations. PICTURED: OUR INSPECTORS OUT IN THE FIELD AT LICENSED BREEDER FACILITIES brerules.htm * No proper medical records for During a typical inspection, routine and preventative healthcare. TDLR inspectors look for violations of the laws and rules and pay close attention to the general well-being of the Things that stand out during an inspection: animals. Inspectors have a checklist they use to look for • Not cleaning excrement: in these cases, the facility will violations such as: be cited by TDLR inspectors, and local animal control • medical records for the animals; and/or the sheriff ’s department will be contacted. • exercise protocols; • annual inventory of the animals; To learn more about the TDLR Licensed Breeder program, visit • breeding dates; us at: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/bre/bre.htm
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