The Missouri Department of Agriculture has finalized animal care standards for dogs in breeding facilities. The new rules were established earlier this year in the Missouri State Senate Bill known as the Missouri Solution. Dr. Jon Hagler, Missouri’s Director of Agriculture, says the rules are the result of thousands of comments from Missourians and public meetings held throughout the state. The rules clarify veterinary care requirements, access to water, shelter and flooring.
Rule changes include continuous access to drinkable water, annual veterinary examinations as well as documentation of any additional necessary veterinary treatment.
The rules provide for more space for animals – double the size currently required. That goes for all existing facilities, which have to have that done that by January 1, 2012. All newly constructed facilities and all facilities after 2016 have to have about three times the current required space.
The Missouri Solution also bans wire flooring in all new construction and in all facilities by 2016. It has to be plastic flooring, expanded metal with flexible plastic coatings and concrete flooring.
Since early 2009, the Missouri Department of Agriculture has rescued more than 5,200 dogs from substandard conditions. The animal care program has already added four inspectors, an investigator and a veterinarian.
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