USDA license???
 

Please don't hate me for asking this question....
But I always thought USDA licensed was a bad thing, a warning to stay away from those breeders. Are they all bad or is this a misconception?? Are there really some good reputable breeders out there that are USDA licensed??

I applied for a kennel license in my county as I am starting up a breeding program and right now it is sooo much cheaper to get a kennel license than to pay seperately for each dog. But the dog warden told me that I would also have to be USDA licensed and be inspected by them. She said I shoulden't have any problems getting approval because of the way I take good care of my babies. But I really don't like that idea, especially if people will stay away if I am USDA licensed. Plus I want to have a good reputation and I am not sure if USDA licensed would make people think otherwise. My dogs don't live in a kennel, they are my babies and all live in the house with me and get spoiled rotten, I coulden't have it any other way.

So do I just skip the kennel license all together?? What is your opinion on this?? Right now I feel very uneasy about the whole idea of it all and would love to hear what you guys think I should do.

I thought to be USDA licensed you have to keep your dogs in a kennel outside your house. I will be interested in the responses

Yeah someone please answer her question...recently a friend of mine who raises Yorkies in her house was asked if she was USDA approved and that she HAD to be to advertise as a breeder?? Curious to know the answer to this one!:thumbup:

This is what I ahve always heard and even by my all breed club members. So be sure and check in to it carefully.

Many rules and regualtions are changing quickly right now and it depends on your state or even town.
T.

How many breeding females do you have? I thought you had to get licensed if you have over 3.

License - Depends on you area and town and state you live in. AKC has nothing to do with this right now.
T.

I would also like to know that answer...:rolleyes:

USDA is the same all over

In my county we are allowed to have 4 females and two males before we have to get a kennel license.

Personally I believe the less the government is involved in your life the better off you are.

From the information that I received, the USDA does not redquire that the dogs be kept outside, just they the be housed away from the family, I'm not sure who they are protecting, the family or the dog) They also have to have an outdoor area that is fenced, and a SEPARATEd kitchen to prepare their food.( Again I'm not sure who they are priotecting the people or the dogs. You are required to have cage for the breeding females.

Once you are inspected and licensed, I highly doubt that they will EVER be around to reinspect unless there is a complaint against you. They can't keep up with the work they have now.

Someone with as walk out basement, such as I have would be OK.

People do tend to associate USDA kennels with puppy mills.

PS Most breeders probably do not want to answer as to whether they are operating legally or not.

No, I wasn't talking about USDA regulations, but what you have to do in compliance with your local government reguirements (laws). The alws are each different depending on your area.
T.

My Trixie143

I dont know the regulations where you are. But in Illinois the animals MUST be housed in a separate building in order to be granted a kennel license. It is also mandatory to be licensed with the USDA. If you have over 5 breeding dogs, thats all it takes for someone to suppose to be licensed. Alot of people are over the limit and are not licensed. If you were just one or two dogs over the limit Im not sure I would mess with it. Its expensive to set up!!!
Illinois is strict about drainage and sanitation. Temperature requirements of the building, etc. They do inspect you with complaints or not. They may notify, they may not of their coming.
I am getting a kennel license to be compliant with the law. I am over the limit and its just something I feel good about doing.
Our building is almost complete and will be inspected in the next couple of months. Its not a shed, or polebarn lined with cages. It is very nice with indoor kennels and outdoor runs for each kennel. Its darn near like a little house for my dogs. We have been working on it for 10 months. It will be comfy for the kids and I to go and sit, play with the dogs, set up to care for them. Its small, it could house 20 dogs, but I dont have 20 dogs to house there. Puppies just like always will be raised in the kitchen, because they arent breeding dogs are they?;)
Yes, I think people do generally think its not good and frown upon it if someone is USDA licensed but to be legal that is what I have to do, unless I want to release some of my dogs. ANd I dont.
People do associate puppymills with those licenses, but Im certain there are people out there who have only 6 dogs and have those licenses, and I wouldnt consider them a puppymill. I think its a matter of how much time is spent with the dogs, how many they have, the care given, the set up not the license they have.

Here in Colorado if you have more than 2 litters a year you are supposed to get USDA licensed. I am sure than most people here arent. I dont think it sheds a bad light just because you are USDA licensed, I think it is how many dogs you have and how they are taken care of, breeding numerous breeds, and mixing breeds to make "designer" dogs for profit is what sheds a bad light.

Here is the USDA requirement for exemptions to the USDA licensing laws: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/dealer/exemptions.pdf

If you have have 3 or less breeding females and only sell for pet or exhibition you are exempt from licensing.
You can also be exempt if you have less than $500 gross income from the sales. Since it says gross and not net, I doubt anyone selling Yorkies could use this one.

Cities, counties, and states may have additional laws, but the USDA licensing requirements would not be superceded by them. They can make additional requirements just not reduce the requirements.

I did see where raising and retail selling of dogs for hunting, security, guarding are exempt from licensing. Hmmmmm..... I know mine will bark up a storm for any unknown intruder, so they must be security dogs. ;)

LOL! Yeah My yorkies like to bark too ANd you got me thinking! BUt according to the Illinois animal welfare act, its regulations state this. Quoted from the Illinois Dept of of agriculture pamphlet.

Necessity of License.
No person shall engage in business as a pet shop operator, dog dealer, kennel operator, cattery operator, or operate a guard dog service, an animal control facility or animal shelter or any combination thereof, in this state without a license issued by this department.

I would love to be exempt!

Guess they had people trying the guard dog thing before..... too bad. I know some counties have restrictions about even having a kennel in a residential area. Now the question comes to mind .... have they actually defined kennel operator? If you have them in your home, can it still be considered a kennel?

I can see I will have to check in to this well before we consider breeding.

Wanna make your head swim and get a serious headache?!:eek:

Read the rules and regulatons here

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/kitchensink.pdf

The more I read the more confused I get!

The way I understand it is if you place more then 25 puppies or dogs a year and if you have more then 3 breeding females. Based on, if you have more then 3 females and average litter sizes you will most likely go over the count 25 so requiring the license.
That is how I understood it, page 2 beginning the middle bottom of page.

Please correct me if Im wrong if you want to read it:eek: . Too complicated I think my head will explode......lol.