USDA Considers Tougher Transport Rules for Many Animals
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in May proposed to extend minimum shipping-age requirements to all warm-blooded animals except birds.
Current Animal Welfare Act regulations stipulate minimum-age requirements only for dogs and cats.
Under the proposed rule, animals would have to travel with their mothers or be weaned and at least 8 weeks of age to be transported in commerce.
The proposed rule would ensure the humane treatment of additional types of animals, the USDA said in a press release.
The eight-week rule is not justified for many species, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington) said in a recent PetAlert: “A number of species in the pet trade, specifically rodents, are weaned a lot sooner than eight weeks. In fact, some have reached sexual maturity at eight weeks.”
Applying the eight-week age requirement to rodents could severely affect the availability of feeder animals, PIJAC said.
The trade association was preparing comments to the USDA at press time. The public comment period closed July 8. [August 2008 PET AGE]
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