New requirements for commercial dog breeders approved

Commercial dog breeders must meet stronger licensing requirements under a bill passed by the Legislature March 1.

A commercial dog breeder is a person who engages in the business of breeding dogs and:
• sells, exchanges or leases 31 or more dogs in a 12-month period;
• owns or harbors four or more dogs intended for breeding;
• keeps dogs that produce a total of four or more litters within a 12-month period; and
• sells, exchanges or leases dogs for later retail sale or brokered trading.

LB427, introduced by Bellevue Sen. Abbie Cornett, establishes new licensure stipulations and requires that a breeder:
• maintain individual animal health records;
• publish an updated facility plan annually;
• provide daily exercise and socialization opportunities;
• groom dogs to ensure very little of their coats are matted;
• offer an exercise area at least three times the size of the primary living area;
• identify all animals with a microchip;
• provide sanitary flooring; and
• has a veterinarian conduct a hands-on physical and dental exam once every three years.

Breeders are required to report serious injuries or medical conditions to veterinarians and are prohibited from performing surgeries on animals.

The state Department of Agriculture can deny licensure to any breeder who has had his or her license revoked or has been accused of animal cruelty in another state. A process to appeal any state Department of Agriculture licensure ruling also is included in the bill.

Senators passed the bill on a 45-3 vote.