Support the Federal Pet Safety and Protection Act

Action required for US residents:
https://secure2.convio.net/aspca/sit...Action&id=2157

Keep Pets Out of Labs-Support the Federal Pet Safety and Protection
Act

S. 714/H.R. 1280-Sale of Dogs and Cats to Research Institutions
Sponsor(s): Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI); Rep. Michael Doyle (D-PA)
ASPCA Position: Support
Action Needed: Send a letter to your representative and senators
urging them to support and cosponsor the Pet Safety and Protection
Act.

Class B Dealers, licensed under the federal Animal Welfare Act,
collect dogs and cats from random sources and sell them to the
research industry. Class B Dealers sometimes obtain their animals
through illegal or unethical means, such as by responding to "free to
good home" ads in newspapers, falsifying records to keep the true
origins of the animals unknown, and stealing pets kept outside in
yards.

The Pet Safety and Protection Act, S. 714/H.R. 1280, would prohibit
Class B Dealers and unlicensed individuals from selling dogs and cats
to research laboratories. The only people who would be allowed to sell
dogs and cats to research facilities would be dealers who have bred
and raised the dog or cat, publicly owned pounds or shelters that
obtained the animals from their legal owners, and persons donating a
dog or cat who they have bred and raised or owned for at least one
year. People who obtained dogs and cats by any other means would not
be permitted to sell those dogs and cats to research laboratories,
thus ensuring that stolen pets do not end up in research facilities.
This bill would eliminate the incentive for "bunchers"-people who
collect animals from random sources and sell them to Class B Dealers-
to obtain dogs and cats through illegal or unethical means, as there
would be no profit in doing so.

The Pet Safety and Protection Act would provide a much-needed safety
net to ensure beloved family pets are not stolen or acquired under
false pretenses and sold to research laboratories. Contact your
representative and senators now and urge them to support and cosponsor
S. 714 and H.R. 1280!