Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2005

H.R. 5229, the Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2005, seeks to strengthen protections for family pets by strictly limiting where research facilities can obtain dogs and cats. The bill would require these facilities to acquire animals only from specific, verified sources, such as licensed dealers, public shelters that meet certain standards, or individuals who have personally raised the animal.

For citizens, this legislation is designed to prevent "random source" animals—which may include lost or stolen pets—from being sold into the research pipeline. By establishing stricter certification requirements and increasing monetary penalties for violations, the bill aims to ensure that only animals specifically bred for research or legally surrendered are used in laboratories.