HB548 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Beckman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Animals, puppy mills, standards for breeding and care, criminal penalties

Summary

HB548 would set minimum welfare standards for breeding dogs and create penalties for puppy mills in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

It would require 'covered dogs' to have adequate exercise, necessary food and water, sufficient housing, sufficient space, and veterinary care. It would limit breeding to no more than two litters in 18 months and require detailed records of each covered dog's pregnancy and whelping. It would establish criminal penalties for unlawfully operating a puppy mill and for violations of the care standards, with exceptions for veterinary care, research, transport, cleaning, supervised outdoor exercise, and emergencies; a veterinarian would determine if adequate exercise is inappropriate, with written documentation and periodic review. It would state that the bill's effects include a new or increased local-funding obligation, but it is exempt from local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it creates a new crime or amends an existing crime.

Who It Affects

• Puppy mill operators or dog breeders who custody or own more than 10 covered dogs for breeding and selling offspring; they would need to follow care standards and could face penalties, including separate offenses for each violation per dog.
• Licensed veterinarians and veterinary staff, who would perform required pre-breeding exams, treatments, and humane euthanasia, and who would document exercise appropriateness and related actions under the bill.

Key Provisions

• Defines covered dogs and sets minimum welfare requirements: adequate exercise, necessary food and water, sufficient housing and space, and veterinary care.
• Adequate exercise is defined as an outdoor area with continuous access, ability for dogs to run, prevention of escapes, and daily cleaning of waste and debris.
• Allows up to two litters per covered dog in 18 months and requires detailed records of each dog's pregnancy, whelping history, outcomes, and complications, to be kept and shared during veterinary exams.
• Specifies housing requirements: indoor enclosures with solid floors, not stacked, daily waste cleaning, minimum temperature of 45°F, and sufficient space.
• Sets space requirements: enough room to turn, lie down, extend limbs; minimum indoor space per dog varies by size, with explicit square footage rules.
• Stipulates veterinary care: prior complete physical exam before each breeding cycle, prompt treatment for illness or injury, and humane euthanasia per AVMA guidelines.
• Creates offenses: unlawfully operating a puppy mill is a Class A misdemeanor; violations related to care and breeding standards are separate offenses per dog.
• Lists exceptions where failures to provide care do not constitute violations (vet procedures, lawful research, during transportation, cleaning, supervised outdoor exercise, and emergencies); veterinarians may document when exercise is inappropriate, with 30-day reviews for changes.
• Excludes the bill from additional Amending-621 local-funds requirements because it creates a new crime or amends an existing crime.
• Establishes the effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Animals