An Act To amend the Act of August 24, 1966, as amended, to increase the protection afforded animals in transit and to assure human treatment of certain animals, and for other purposes

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Summary

  • The Congress finds it necessary to insure that animals intended for use in research facilities or exhibition purposes or use as pets are provided humane care and treatment; to assure the humane treatment of animals during transportation in commerce; and to protect owners of animals from theft of their animals by preventing the sale or use of animals which have been stolen. Amendments are made to certain definitions including "intermediate handler." The term "intermediate handler" means any person including a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or of any State or local government (other than a dealer, research facility, exhibitor, any person excluded from the definition of a dealer, research facility, or exhibitor, an operator of an auction sale, or a carrier) who is engaged in any business in which he receives custody of animals in connection with their transportation in commerce.
  • The Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate standards to govern the transportation in commerce, and the handling, care, and treatment in connection therewith, by intermediate handlers, air carriers, or other carriers, of animals consigned by any dealer, research facility, exhibitor, operator of an auction sale, or other person, or any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or of any State or local government, for transportation in commerce. Violations of standards promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture may result in license suspension and revocation, and civil penalties. Animal fighting ventures are unlawful and are prohibited. Costs incurred by the United States for care of animals seized and forfeited shall be recoverable from the owner of the animals.
  • There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture for enforcement by the Department of Agriculture of the provisions of this Act an amount not to exceed $100,000 for the transition quarter ending September 30, 1976, and not to exceed $400,000 for each fiscal year thereafter.

Subject

  • United States. Secretary of Agriculture
  • United States Dept. of Agriculture

Category

Smithsonian Legal Documents

Legal document information

  • 90 Stat. 417
  • Title 07, Agriculture
  • Public Law

Citation information

Statutes at Large

Notes

Applies to Smithsonian facilities which contain live animals, notably the National Zoological Park and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

Contained within

90 Stat. 417 (1976); Pub. L. No. 94-279 (Book)

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

  • 1978
  • 04/22/1976

Topic

  • Animals
  • Amendments (Parliamentary practice)
  • Transportation
  • Finance
  • Animal fighting
  • Expenditures, Public
  • Research institutes
  • Animal welfare
  • Animals--Transportation

Form/Genre

Public Law

Physical description

Number of pages: 7; Page Numbers: 417-23

Full Record

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