Congress passed the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) back in 1966, and it outlines minimal standards of care for dogs bred for commercial resale. However, puppy mills that sell dogs directly to the public are not required to obtain a federal license and be inspected by the USDA. Commercial breeders who sell puppies directly to pet stores or use brokers to sell their puppies must be inspected annually, though many inspection reports show that kennels often get away with violations of the AWA. See other page for summary of the laws by each State in the U.S.
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