Van Hollen, Durbin, Feinstein Call on USDA OIG to Audit Oversight of Dog Breeders

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to conduct a more in-depth audit to properly examine the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) oversight of dog breeders regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The request comes after the USDA OIG noted in a recent report that the COVID-19 pandemic hindered efforts to conduct a full audit, which the Senators are now calling for.  

 “In the recently released report, OIG noted that they were unable to conduct a full audit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Auditors originally planned to visit 120 dog breeding sites in 15 states, but these inspections were cancelled due to the pandemic. As a result, critical information was not obtained on whether licensed facilities are providing humane care for dogs, as well as how inspectors are carrying out inspections and whether inspectors are accurately documenting violations or adequately following up on prior noncompliance. The report notes that because of these limitations, inspectors were unable to ensure or assess breeder compliance with the AWA,” the Senators wrote.

“In 2010, we were pleased with OIG’s comprehensive audit to determine the efficacy of APHIS’ oversight of dog dealers. In that audit, OIG made recommendations based on its findings that the APHIS enforcement process was ineffective against problematic dealers. Given the incomplete 2021 audit, we are concerned that many of the problems identified in the 2010 audit may continue to go unaddressed, allowing problematic dog dealers to operate unchecked,” they continued.

Joining Van Hollen, Durbin, and Feinstein on the letter are U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). 

Find a copy of the letter here and below:

Dear Inspector General Fong: 

After reviewing the audit recently released by the Office of Inspector General (OIG), “Animal Care Program Oversight of Dog Breeders,” we request that OIG conduct a more in-depth audit to properly examine the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) oversight of dog breeders regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). 

In the recently released report, OIG noted that they were unable to conduct a full audit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Auditors originally planned to visit 120 dog breeding sites in 15 states, but these inspections were cancelled due to the pandemic.  As a result, critical information was not obtained on whether licensed facilities are providing humane care for dogs, as well as how inspectors are carrying out inspections and whether inspectors are accurately documenting violations or adequately following up on prior noncompliance. The report notes that because of these limitations, inspectors were unable to ensure or assess breeder compliance with the AWA.

In 2010, we were pleased with OIG’s comprehensive audit to determine the efficacy of APHIS’ oversight of dog dealers. In that audit, OIG made recommendations based on its findings that the APHIS enforcement process was ineffective against problematic dealers. Given the incomplete 2021 audit, we are concerned that many of the problems identified in the 2010 audit may continue to go unaddressed, allowing problematic dog dealers to operate unchecked.  

Overall, while we commend the OIG for its efforts to conduct this follow-up audit and understand the limitations imposed by the pandemic, we remain concerned about the incomplete 2021 audit. Over 2,000 dog breeders are currently licensed by USDA, and insufficient oversight could put hundreds of thousands of dogs at risk. As such, we request that once the pandemic conditions are safer, OIG conduct an in-depth examination of APHIS’ oversight of dog breeders.

Ensuring breeders are compliant with existing regulations helps ensure the health and safety of dogs in their care. We thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely,