Local legislators author pet transparency bill

The Dog and Cat Data Transparency Bill, authored by Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley) and Sen. Bonnie Westlin (DFL-Plymouth), is moving through the state legislature.

If passed, it would let consumers verify breeder and shelter claims about the number of animals, animal health and facility conditions before making a significant financial and emotional investment in a new pet. This legislation would make data on findings about large-scale commercial cat and dog breeders public and would require state inspection data for licensed dog and cat breeders to be posted online.

Minnesota consumers can already find important information on most other licensed professionals and businesses, including nonprofit animal shelters, because the state classifies the data as public information. The Dog and Cat Transparency Bill could hold licensed breeders to the same data transparency standards.

“Minnesotans deserve to know the truth about where their new member of the family is coming from,” Freiberg said. “This bill will help families and pet-parents-to-be verify things like the number of animals, the health of the animals, and facility conditions before they put down a large deposit on a puppy or kitten they haven’t met yet. By increasing transparency, facilities following proper procedures will be unaffected, while bad actors will be held accountable.”

“Minnesotans want to have the best information available for themselves and their families when making important life decisions – and that should include when they bring a pet into their lives,” Westlin said. “Unfortunately, many families are in the dark about the conditions that may have existed for pets raised by breeders, and it’s time to change that. This legislation will provide much-needed transparency around commercial breeders throughout Minnesota.”

Freiberg represents Senate District 43B in the state House of Representatives. District 43B consists of Golden Valley, Robbinsdale and Golden Valley, and southeastern portions of Crystal and Plymouth.

Westlin represents Senate District 42 in the state Senate. District 42 is made up of Plymouth, Maple Grove and Medicine Lake.

The entire Dog and Cat Data Transparency Bill can be read online. Search for HF3410 in the House and SF3458 in the Senate.