Notably, there is no sister bill, and because of the fatal flaws in the bill, described in part below, it will hopefully be fated for a timely death to join other similarly flawed bills. The most egregious flaw with this bill is the provision that would make it “unlawful to breed any dog . . . without the appropriate, current United States Department of Agriculture license for the breeding of a dog required pursuant to the federal ‘Animal Welfare Act,’ 7 U.S.C. s. 2131 et seq. . . . “ A USDA license for a dog breeder is only available for a breeder who qualifies for such as license, which is currently limited to a breeder with more than four breeding females. Voluntary licensure for dog breeders with four or fewer breeding females is not available.

Specifically, PETA had requested that MSU release records relating to research and testing that was funded by Iams, a pet food company.PETA subsequently modified its request to seek only certain animal care protocol review forms prepared by MSU in conjunction with Iams pursuant to a series of agreements specifying that MSU would not disclose Iams’ confidential information and that MSU would maintain its animal care facilities in conformance with the federal Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. §2131 et seq., and all other applicable laws and policies.Iams sought a court order prohibiting the disclosure of exempt information under the Mississippi Public Records Act, Miss. Code Ann. §§25-61-9 and 79-23-1, on the ground that the information PETA requested constitutes trade secrets.

U.S.C. §2131 et seq. “The Congress finds that animals and activities which are regulated under this chapter are either in interstate or foreign commerce or substantially affect such commerce or the free flow thereof, and that regulation of animals and activities as provided in this chapter is necessary to prevent and eliminate burdens upon such commerce and to effectively regulate such commerce, in order – (1) to insure that animals intended . . . for use as pets are provided humane care and treatment . . .” 7 U.S.C. §2131 (Congressional statement of policy). Pet stores in California will no longer be able to purchase and sell pets from USDA licensed and exempts breeders and dealers of dogs, cats and rabbits if AB485 becomes law.