HB569 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike ShawRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Pet care; veterinarian or technician required to be at certain boarding and grooming facilities; civil penalty for violations

Summary

HB569 requires certain large dog and cat boarding and grooming facilities in Alabama to have a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician on site during business hours, with penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would require large facilities that board or groom dogs or cats to maintain on-site licensed veterinary staff during business hours who can advise on and provide proper care. The Department of Agriculture and Industries would enforce the rule and may levy civil penalties for violations (not less than $500 per violation). The act would take effect on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Operators of boarding facilities for dogs/cats that board 100 or more animals, and operators of grooming facilities that employ at least 20 people in a calendar year, who must have a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician on site during business hours.
• The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, which will enforce the new requirement and issue penalties for noncompliance.

Key Provisions

• Boarding Facility: any business where commercial boarding/confimentment of at least 100 dogs or cats may occur.
• Grooming Facility: any business where commercial grooming of dogs or cats occurs and that employs at least 20 individuals in a calendar year.
• A facility must have a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician on site during business hours who can advise on and provide proper care to animals in custody or care of the facility.
• The Department of Agriculture and Industries will enforce the section and levy civil penalties of at least $500 per violation.
• Effective date: October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Animals; Consumer Protection