Unless otherwise specified, all housing for adult
dogs and puppies kept by high volume breeders shall meet the minimum
requirements listed in this rule.
(A) The housing facility shall be
structurally sound and restrict the entry of other animals.
(B) The housing facility and primary
enclosures shall be inspected daily and any defects shall be corrected as soon
as possible.
(C) Each adult dog or puppy shall have
access to and be housed in a primary enclosure which complies with the
requirements of this rule.
(D) The primary enclosure shall:
(1) Allow each dog housed
in the enclosure to turn in a complete circle, lie down, and fully extend the
dog's limbs;
(2) Provide a resting place that has a
solid floor large enough to accommodate all adult dogs and puppies in the
primary enclosure at the same time and a partial or complete visual barrier.
The solid flooring may be removable for cleaning purposes;
(3) Have an interior height at least six
inches higher than the head of the tallest adult dog or puppy in the primary
enclosure when the tallest adult dog or puppy is in a normal standing
position;
(4) Not be stacked on top
of another primary enclosure; and
(5) Restrict the entry of
other animals.
(E) Primary enclosure size.
As used in paragraphs (E)(1) and (E)(2) of this
rule, "dog" means a puppy that is twelve weeks of age or older or an
adult dog.
(1) Prior to December 31,
2021, the primary enclosure shall provide each dog with a minimum amount of
floor space, in square inches, that is equal to at least two times the
following: the square of the length of the dog housed in the enclosure in
inches, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail six
inches.
(2) On and after December
31, 2021, the primary enclosure shall provide each dog with a minimum amount of
floor space, in square inches, that is equal to at least two times the
following: the square of the length of the dog housed in the enclosure in
inches, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail plus nine
inches. For each additional dog that is kept or confined in a primary
enclosure, the enclosure shall have additional floor space in square inches
equal to the following: the square of the length of the dog housed in the
enclosure in inches, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the
tail plus nine inches.
(3) On and after December
31, 2021, weaned puppies up to twelve weeks of age shall be housed in a primary
enclosure with a minimum floor space calculated as follows: the square of the
length of the puppy housed in the enclosure in inches, as measured from the tip
of the nose to the base of the tail, plus six inches.
(F) Flooring.
(1) The primary enclosure
shall have a floor that is of a sufficient grid density to preserve the normal
mobility and muscle tone of the dog, and does not sag, bend, or
bounce.
(2) Open metal floors in
primary enclosures shall be coated with a protective coating, and such coating
may include but is not limited to plastic, fiberglass, or rubber.
(3) On and after December
31, 2021, the following requirements regarding flooring shall
apply:
(a) The minimum floor space provided in accordance with
paragraph (E) of this rule shall be solid or consist of slats. If the floor
space consists of slats, the high volume breeder shall ensure that all of the
following apply:
(i) The spaces between
the slats are not more than one-half inch in width.
(ii) The slats are not
less than three and one-half inches in width.
(iii) All of the slats
run in the same direction.
(iv) The floor is
level.
(b) Flooring shall:
(i) Consist of materials
that can be cleaned and sanitized.
(ii) Be safe for the
breed, size, and age of the dog.
(iii) Be free from
protruding sharp objects.
(iv) Be designed so that
the paw of the dog is unable to extend through or become caught in the
flooring.
(v) Not consist of metal
wire, unless the metal is coated with another material and the outer diameter
of the coated metal measures six gauge or thicker.
(G) Temperature, ventilation, and lighting shall provide
for the health and welfare of the dog by the following:
(1) If climatic or ambient temperatures
pose a threat to the health and welfare of the adult dog or puppy, measures
shall be taken to regulate the temperature to eliminate the threat. Outdoor
housing cannot be used for dogs that cannot tolerate the prevalent temperatures
without stress or discomfort, such as short haired breeds, sick, aged or young
dogs that are not acclimated. The dog's age, species, breed, overall
health and acclimation to the environment shall be taken into
consideration;
(2) Dry bedding or other methods of
conserving body heat shall be provided when temperatures are below fifty
degrees F;
(3) Ventilation shall minimize drafts,
odors, dust, ammonia levels, and moisture condensation;
(4) Lighting shall be uniformly diffused
throughout the housing facility and provide normal day and night variations by
natural or artificial source; and,
(5) Light intensity shall be sufficient
for observation and cleaning.
(H) Indoor housing facilities shall:
(1) Constitute an
enclosure created by the continuous connection of a roof, walls, floor, and
foundation;
(2) Be sufficiently
heated and cooled when necessary to protect the dogs from temperature or
humidity extremes and to provide for their health and welfare; and
(3) Have at least one
door for entry and exit that can be opened and closed, and windows to provide
natural light which shall be covered with a transparent material such as glass
or hard plastic.
(I) Sheltered housing facilities shall meet the following
requirements:
(1) The sheltered part of
the housing facility shall be ventilated by windows, doors, vents, fans; a
combination of these; or by air conditioning;
(2) The sheltered part of
the housing facility shall be sufficiently heated and cooled when necessary to
protect the dogs from temperature or humidity extremes to provide for their
health and welfare; and,
(3) Outdoor runs shall
offer enough protection from the natural elements to accommodate all dogs
housed in the primary enclosure in the event indoor access is
denied.
(J) Outdoor housing facilities shall:
(1) Be used only if
approved by a veterinarian;
(2) Include one or more shelter
structures that protect adult dogs or puppies from the natural elements and are
accessible to each adult dog or puppy in each outdoor facility;
and,
(3) Have shelters that are large enough
to allow all adult dogs or puppies in the shelter structure to sit, stand, and
lie in a normal manner, and to turn about freely.
(K) Whelping areas shall be provided for all dams with
litters and which meet the following requirements:
(1) Allows the dam to lie
fully recumbent, stand, turn around and have freedom of position and
movement;
(2) Contains all
puppies;
(3) Provides some form of
solid flooring;
(4) Provides insulation
or heat source to prevent dissipation of heat from the whelping area so that
all puppies are able to maintain appropriate body temperature;
(5) Permits the dam to
temporarily move away from the puppies as the dam chooses;
(6) Ensures that no other
animals inhabit the whelping area other than the dam and the
puppies;
(7) Provides the dam and the puppies
daily positive physical contact with people; and,
(8) Meets the minimum
floor space requirements outlined in paragraph (E) of this rule.
(L) Storage areas shall be designed and maintained to
protect medicines, drugs, bedding, or other supplies from deterioration,
contamination, and vermin infestations.
(M) Cleaning.
(1) Excreta, dirt, grime, and other waste
shall be removed from the primary enclosures at least once per
day.
(2) Areas, other than the
primary enclosure, where dogs are permitted are cleaned at least
weekly.
(3) Hard surfaces with which the adult
dogs or puppies come into contact with shall be cleaned daily and disinfected a
minimum of once every two weeks with a cleaning solution safe for adult dogs or
puppies.
(4) Housing facilities shall be equipped
with disposal facilities and drainage systems that are constructed and operated
so that fecal waste, urine, and water are rapidly eliminated from primary
enclosures and adult dogs or puppies stay dry.
(5) Areas under outside sheltered runs
shall be raked or cleaned at least weekly.
(N) Permanent tethering of adult dogs or puppies to any
object is prohibited for use as primary enclosure.
(O) Adult dogs or puppies that are housed in the same
primary enclosure shall be compatible with the following
restrictions:
(1) Females in heat
(estrus) shall not be housed in the same primary enclosure with males, except
for breeding purposes;
(2) Any adult dog or
puppy exhibiting a vicious or overly aggressive disposition shall be housed
separately;
(3) The introduction of a
new adult dog or puppy to an existing group of adult dogs or puppies housed
together in the same facility or primary enclosure shall be done in a manner to
minimize distress and aggression.
(4) Puppies four months
of age or less may not be housed in the same primary enclosure with adult dogs
other than their dams or foster dams.
(P) Each housing facility shall have a contingency plan
conspicuously posted in case of emergencies, including but not limited to wind,
fire, flood, or building collapse.
