HOW WILL USDA LICENSING IMPACT THE HOBBY BREEDER?
SA 3723 amends the current statute to define additional USDA licensed “dealers” to include: 1. Any person that sells more than 25 dogs or cats at wholesale or to the public, or 2. Any person that whelps more than 6 litters of dogs or cats and sells dogs or cats bred or raised on the premises of another person, or at wholesale, or 3. Any person that imports dogs for another person’s use and enjoyment. A USDA license will require unannounced inspections and annual fees in addition to conforming to over 60 pages of care and facility standards. Standards such as “surfaces must be impervious to moisture” are impossible to meet in the home environment. The requirement of USDA licensing will severely impact cat fanciers at the hobby breeding level, if it does not destroy their pedigreed breeding programs completely. In many areas having a USDA license automatically defines you as a commercial entity – frequently not allowed in residential zoning. If allowed by the local jurisdiction, you may
