Puppy Protection Act of 2025

The Puppy Protection Act of 2025 aims to amend the Animal Welfare Act to establish stricter requirements for the treatment of dogs by licensed commercial dealers. If enacted, the bill would mandate specific housing standards, such as requiring completely solid flooring, prohibiting the stacking of enclosures, and ensuring indoor spaces are tall enough for dogs to stand on their hind legs. It also proposes minimum square footage requirements based on a dog's size and requires that temperatures in these facilities be maintained between 45 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Beyond physical housing, the legislation proposes to regulate the daily care and breeding practices of commercial facilities. This includes requiring twice-daily nutritious meals, continuous access to clean water, and at least 30 minutes of daily socialization with humans or compatible dogs. The bill also seeks to limit breeding frequency to no more than two litters in any 25-month period and sets a lifetime limit of six litters per female dog. Additionally, it would require dealers to provide annual veterinary exams and make reasonable efforts to find humane placements for dogs retired from breeding.