Animal Welfare Act

The AWAHDC contains U.S. Government publications that fall into three categories:

• Legislative History of the AWA (including public laws, hearings, Congressional reports, and excerpts from the Congressional Record)
• Regulatory History of the AWA (Federal Register documents)
• USDA publications

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) requires that minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for certain animals bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially, or exhibited to the public.

Current Law and Regulations:

• Animal Welfare Act (PDF | 122 KB)
• Animal Welfare Regulations (PDF | 463 KB)

The current law revises the original law passed in 1966 by incorporating the amendments passed in 1970, 1976, 1985, 1990, 2002, 2007, and 2008.

Text of Original Law:

• Animal Welfare Act of August 24, 1966

USDA Animal Care has posted the most up-to-date version of the Animal Welfare Act and regulations.

Provides an overview of the Animal Welfare Act including recent amendments and introduced bills.

This page provides guidelines for dealers, exhibitors, transporters, and researchers. It lists most regulated and exempt businesses under the Animal Welfare Act.

The manual gives policies issued by APHIS/Animal Care that clarify the Animal Welfare Act regulations. Originally issued in April 1997, new policies may be added at any time and included in the manual.

Developed in collaboration with USDA APHIS Animal Care, this eleven part course provides information about licensing and regulatory requirements for commercial dog breeders.