Dogs and Cats - Best Management Standards/Care

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I. DEFINITIONS.

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A. ANIMALS means a dog wholly or in part of the species Canis familiaris, or a cat

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wholly or in part of the species Felis domesticus.

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B. CONFINEMENT AREA means a structure used or designed for use to restrict

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an animal to a limited amount of space, such as a room, pen, cage, kennel,

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compartment, crate, or hutch.

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C. HOUSING FACILITY means a room, building, or area that contains a

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confinement area.

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II. STANDARDS.

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A. FOOD. Animals must be provided with food of sufficient quantity and

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quality to allow for normal growth or the maintenance of body weight.

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(Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 1).

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Animal food must meet or exceed National Research Council standards

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and should meet American Association of Feed Company Officials, Inc.,

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(AAFCO) processing standards. Animals should be provided wholesome food

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suitable for the species at a frequency and amount appropriate for the species

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and age. Animals over the age of 20 weeks should be offered food at least once

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every 24 hours. Animals under the age of 20 weeks should be offered food at

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least once every 12 hours.

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B. WATER. Animals must be provided with potable water in sufficient

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quantity to satisfy the animal's needs. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 2).

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Animals should be provided access to clean, fresh, potable water in a

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sanitary manner at least once every 12 hours or in sufficient quantity to satisfy

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the animals' needs or supplied by free choice. Snow or ice is not an adequate

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water source. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 2).

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C. SHELTER. Animals must be provided with adequate shelter to provide for

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their health and comfort.

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A shelter that protects the animal from inclement weather, wind, and

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direct rays of the sun should be supplied for each animal . A shaded area must be

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provided that is sufficient to protect the animal from the direct rays of the sun at

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all times during the months of May to October. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 4).

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To obtain information regarding guidelines on shelter requirements for

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specific breeds contact the Commissioner's Office, Minnesota Department of

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Agriculture, 625 Robert Street North, St. Paul, MN 55155-2538, 612/201-6561.

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D. CONFINEMENT AREA. A confinement area must provide sufficient space

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to allow each animal to turn about freely and to easily stand, sit and lie in a

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normal position. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 4),

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If an animal is maintained in an outdoor confinement area, that space

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should contain a shelter that complies with Minn. Stat. § 343.40. If an animal is

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maintained in a confinement area within a housing facility used primarily to

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house animals, each confined animal must be provided a minimum square

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footage of floor space as measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail,

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plus 25 percent, expressed in square feet. The formula for computing minimum

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square footage is: (length of animal in inches plus 25 percent) times (length of

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animal in inches plus 25 percent) divided by 144. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39 subd. 4).

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1. SURFACE AREA. The interior surfaces of all indoor confinement

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areas must be constructed and maintained so that they are

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substantially impervious to moisture, provide for rapid drainage, may

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be readily cleaned, kept in good repair, and protect the animal from

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injury. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 10, 11).

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Confinement area flooring should be constructed of nonabrasive

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wire of ten gauge or larger or smooth, durable, impermeable material

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suitable for animals. The mesh or grid should be of a suitable size to

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prevent feet from passing through the openings. Sufficient space or

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barrier should be provided between confinement areas to ensure that no

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liquid or solid waste, water, or food passes from one confinement area to

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the other. Confinement areas should be ventilated sufficiently to allow for

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the free movement of air in and around the confinement area. All outdoor

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confinement area flooring should be impermeable material or well

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drained aggregate.

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DRAINAGE. A suitable method must be used to eliminate excess

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fluids from confinement areas. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 1). All feces

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should be removed and disposed of daily. All waste drainage and waste

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material should be disposed of using a method prescribed by any

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applicable building or health codes.

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2. TEMPERATURE, VENTILATION, LIGHTING, FIRE SAFETY.

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Temperature,ventilation, and lighting must be adequate for the type,

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number, and condition of animals involved.

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TEMPERATURE. Indoor housing facilities for animals should be

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maintained at a temperature that is appropriate for the breed of animal.

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Heating and cooling units must be of a type and installation approved by

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applicable building or safety codes.

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VENTILATION. Housing facilities must be ventilated. (Minn.

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Stat. § 346.39, subd 8). Auxiliary ventilation, such as exhaust fans, vents,

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air conditioning, or a combination of them, should be used when the

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ambient temperature exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit at floor level. This

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system must be of a type and installation approved by applicable building

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or safety codes.

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LIGHTING. Housing facilities must have at least eight hours of

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illumination. (Minn. Stat § 346.39, subd. 9). Ample lighting, by natural

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or artificial means should be uniformly distributed.

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FIRE SAFETY. Smoke detectors should be installed in a housing

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facility. Fire extinguishers containing substances nontoxic to animals

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should be readily available.

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3. SANITATION. Feeding and water receptacles must be kept clean

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and free of contaminants. Confinement areas must be kept clean

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enough to protect animals from excessive moisture, waste and harmful

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contaminants. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 12).

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FOOD AND WATER. Food and water receptacles must be

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accessible to each animal and located so as to prevent contamination by

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excreta. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 12). Opened food bags should be

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stored in plastic or metal cans with tight fitting lids. Disposable foods

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receptacles must be discarded when soiled.

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CONFINEMENT AREAS. Confinement area should be

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thoroughly cleaned daily and impervious surfaces treated with disinfectant

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at least once per week. Animals should be removed from an area while

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the area is being treated with disinfectant and animals should not be

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returned to that area until the area is dry.

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DISEASES. Animals with infectious or contagious diseases should

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be isolated from healthy animals. Caretakers should disinfect their hands

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and shoes after handling animals with infectious or contagious diseases.

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A sink should be furnished with hot and cold running water.

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BEDDING. Bedding, if used, must be kept clean and dry.

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Outdoor confinement and exercise areas must be kept clean and base

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material replaced as necessary. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 12).

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CAT CONFINEMENT AREA. Each cat confinement area should

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be provided with a container for elimination. Non-disposable containers

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impervious to moisture should be cleaned daily. Absorbent material

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should be removed and replaced at least once per week.

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E. EXERCISE. All animals must be provided adequate exercise. (Minn. Stat. §

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346.39, subd. 5).

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All animals should be provided the opportunity for exercise at least twice

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per day. Space should be sufficient for the animals to exercise freely.

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F. GROUP HOUSING AND BREEDING. Animals housed together in a

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confinement area must be kept in compatible groups. Animals must not be

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bred so as to endanger their health. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 6).

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Females in estrus should not be housed with males except for breeding

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purposes. Only healthy, mature animals of normal weight that have been

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examined by a veterinarian should be used for breeding. Females should be

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rested for one or more cycles between breedings. Males should be managed so as

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to maintain normal physical condition and libido.

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G. FEMALES AND LITTERS. Each female with a litter must be provided a

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separate confinement area. Litters should be provided socialization with

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human beings.

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WEANING AGE. Healthy litters should remain with their mother at least

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five weeks, unless a veterinarian has determined that the litter is rejected or

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endangered by their mother or the mother's health is endangered. No animal

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should be sold or given away before the age of eight weeks.

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TEMPERATURE. The ambient temperature other confinement area

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should be maintained at a minimum of 70 degrees Fahrenheit at floor level and a

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maximum of 90 degrees Fahrenheit for animals under seven weeks of age unless

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authorized in writing by a veterinarian.

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SOCIALIZATION. Litters should be provided socialization by physical

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contact with other animals and human beings. It is recommended that litters be

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handled by humans at least two times a day to prevent future biting behavior.

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PET DEALERS. A pet dealer who is not the breeder of an animal may not

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be in possession of an animal that is under the age of eight weeks. This

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restriction does not apply to humane societies or retailers who receive abandoned

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animals.

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H. TRANSPORTATION AND SHIPMENT. Crates and containers must be

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clean, adequately ventilated, contain sufficient space to allow the animals to

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stand up, lie down, and turn around, and provide maximum safety and

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protection to the animals. Adequate food, water, and exercise must be

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provided. (Minn. Stat. § 346.39, subd. 3).

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SHIPPERS. An animal should not be delivered or held for transport in

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commerce more than four hours before the scheduled departure time. No animal

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may be shipped on consignment. Shippers should provide the carriers or

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intermediate handlers with the name, address, and telephone number of the

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receiver, shipper's name, address, telephone number, tag or tattoo number of the

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animals, and time and date the animal was last fed and watered. All shippers

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should securely attach to the outside of the shipping container written instructions

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for the in-transit food and water requirements.

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Shipping containers must be constructed of nonabrasive wire or a smooth,

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durable material suitable for animals. (Minn. Stat § 346.39 subd. 3). Floors

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should be smooth, impermeable material with grating of smooth wire of 10 gauge

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or larger. Containers should be provided with barriers so as to ensure that no

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liquid or solid waste, water, or food passes from one confinement area to another.

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Animals should be maintained in compatible groups. No more than two

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animals may be transported in the same container. Female animals in estrus may

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not be transported in the same container with any male.

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AGE. No one should transport or cause to be transported into, out of, or

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within the state for purposes of resale any animal under eight weeks of age.

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FOOD AND WATER. Animals over the age of 20 weeks should be offered

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food at least once every 24 hours. Animals under the age of 20 weeks should be

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offered food at least once every 12 hours. Each animal should be offered clean,

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fresh potable water, provided in a sanitary manner, at least once every eight

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hours. Food and water receptacles should be securely attached inside the

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container and placed so that the receptacle can be filled from outside the

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container without opening the door.

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EXERCISE. Exercise should be provided at least once every twelve hours,

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or at suitable intervals in relation to food and water consumption.

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I. DISEASE AND PARASITE CONTROL

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MINIMIZING DISSEMINATION OF DISEASE. Dogs or cats affected

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with any clinical evidence of infectious, contagious, or communicable disease

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should be separated from other dogs or cats.

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VETERINARY CARE. An effective program should be established and

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maintained for disease control and prevention, euthanasia, and adequate

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veterinary care under the supervision of a doctor of veterinary medicine.

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HEALTH OF DOGS AND CATS AT TIME OF SALE. The following

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conditions make a dog or cat unfit for sale until treatment brings about a

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satisfactory recovery:

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A. obvious signs of infectious disease;

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B. obvious signs of nutritional deficiencies;

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C. obvious signs of severe parasitism;

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D. fractures;

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E. blindness; and

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F. serious congenital abnormalities.

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CONTROL OF PESTS. An effective program should be established and

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maintained for the control of insects, ectoparasites, rodents, and other pests.

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III. APPLICABILITY TO NON PROFIT ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS

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AND HUMANE SOCIETIES

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Non profit animal welfare organizations and humane societies sometimes have difficulty

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controlling the number and condition of animals under their care. However, they should make

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all reasonable efforts to comply with the provisions of these best management standards. If

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circumstances make compliance difficult or impossible, the organization should immediately

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contact the Board of Animal Health. In order to prevent conditions from deteriorating, the

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Board of Animal Health and the organization should develop a plan for and a time line in which

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compliance will occur.

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Dated: this 17 day of March, 1995.

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Elton R. Redalen

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Commissioner

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Minnesota Department of Agriculture

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