In 1966, Congress passed the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (P.L. 89-54) to prevent pets from being stolen for sale to research laboratories, and to regulate the humane care and handling of dogs, cats, and other laboratory animals. The law was amended in 1970, changing the name to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The AWA is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Congress periodically has amended the act to strengthen enforcement, expand coverage to more animals and activities, or curtail practices viewed as cruel, among other things. A 1976 amendment added Section 26 to the AWA, making illegal several activities that contributed to animal fighting. Farm animals are not covered by the AWA. This book provides a background on the AWA and discusses selected animal welfare legislation. It also reviews farm animal research, the Meat Animal Research Center, and the Animal Welfare Action Plan.

In 1966, Congress passed the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (P.L. 89-54) to prevent pets from being stolen for sale to research laboratories, and to regulate the humane care and handling of dogs, cats, and other laboratory animals. The law was amended in 1970, changing the name to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The AWA is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Congress periodically has amended the act to strengthen enforcement, expand coverage to more animals and activities, or curtail practices viewed as cruel, among other things. A 1976 amendment added Section 26 to the AWA, making illegal several activities that contributed to animal fighting. Farm animals are not covered by the AWA. This book provides a background on the AWA and discusses selected animal welfare legislation. It also reviews farm animal research, the Meat Animal Research Center, and the Animal Welfare Action Plan.

Passed by Congress in 1966, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) sets general standards for humane care and treatment that must be provided for certain animals that are bred for commercial sale, sold sight unseen (Internet sales), exhibited to the public, used in biomedical research, or transported commercially. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has published the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations, known as the "Blue Book," as a tool to improve compliance among our licensees and registrants and to enhance the consistency of inspections by our field inspectors. The Blue Book consolidates into one source the AWA and the applicable regulations and standards. These regulations must be followed by those responsible for the care and handling of animals, including farmers. In addition, animal activists, lawyers, American citizens, zoologists, wildlife rehabilitator specialists, veterinarians, pet care and grooming organizations and their staff, other animal caretakers,USDA employees, and students pursuing research for essays and papers relating to animal rights and care may be interested in these regulations. Related products: CFR Title 9 Animals and Animal Products, Part 1-199, Revised as of January 1, 2017 is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/code-federal-regulations-title-9-animals-and-animal-products-part-1-199-revised-january-1 9 CFR Animals and Animal Products, Part 200- End, Revised as of January 1, 2017 can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/code-federal-regulations-title-9-animals-and-animal-products-part-200-end-revised-january-1 National Wildlife Refuge System: A Visitor's Guide is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/national-wildlife-refuge-system-visitors-guide Animals & Wildlife resources collection can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/animals-wildlife