FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Below are basic questions and answers about the Companion Animal Board bill.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Why is a Companion Animal Board (CAB) needed in Minnesota?
For many Minnesotans, companion animals (pets) are family — and yet there is no state agency that prioritizes pet issues, understands the needs of the pet sector, and assists all the organizations throughout the state who help care for these animals. Issues continue to grow and evolve, including how puppy mills are inspected and regulated (there is one mill now in Minnesota who stated they have 2,000 dogs and puppies), affordable spay neuter services, community cat programs, affordable and accessible veterinary services, and many more. Some issues are now a crisis, which is why it is necessary and urgent to pass this bill in the 2025 legislative session. See ISSUE.
For many Minnesotans, companion animals (pets) are family — and yet there is no state agency that prioritizes pet issues, understands the needs of the pet sector, and assists all the organizations throughout the state who help care for these animals. Issues continue to grow and evolve, including how puppy mills are inspected and regulated (there is one mill now in Minnesota who stated they have 2,000 dogs and puppies), affordable spay neuter services, community cat programs, affordable and accessible veterinary services, and many more. Some issues are now a crisis, which is why it is necessary and urgent to pass this bill in the 2025 legislative session. See ISSUE.
2. What animals will the Companion Animal Board serve? Which animals are excluded?
This board serves companion animals, also defined as pets under Minnesota law. (The two terms are interchangeable.) Companion animal/pet is defined under existing laws: Minn. Stat. sec. 343.20 subd. 6 and Minn. Stat. sec. 346.36 subd. 6. The majority of pets in Minnesota tend to be dogs or cats; however, people also find companionship with rabbits, reptiles, birds, and other species. Animals excluded from the scope of this bill include farmed animals that are "used for food, agricultural products, or other agricultural uses." Other exclusions: wild animals, racehorses, and regulated animals such as tigers.
This board serves companion animals, also defined as pets under Minnesota law. (The two terms are interchangeable.) Companion animal/pet is defined under existing laws: Minn. Stat. sec. 343.20 subd. 6 and Minn. Stat. sec. 346.36 subd. 6. The majority of pets in Minnesota tend to be dogs or cats; however, people also find companionship with rabbits, reptiles, birds, and other species. Animals excluded from the scope of this bill include farmed animals that are "used for food, agricultural products, or other agricultural uses." Other exclusions: wild animals, racehorses, and regulated animals such as tigers.
3. What are the bill numbers and bill language? Who are the bill authors?
The Senate File (SF) number is 1136. The House File (HF) number is 1168. For authors, language, and status, go to BILL.
A new legislative session will start in January 2025. New bills will need to be introduced and new bill numbers will be assigned at that time.
The Senate File (SF) number is 1136. The House File (HF) number is 1168. For authors, language, and status, go to BILL.
A new legislative session will start in January 2025. New bills will need to be introduced and new bill numbers will be assigned at that time.
4. What has been the biggest opposition?
In state government, oversight of pet issues is currently directed to agricultural (livestock) interests — this means any pet bills are directed to the Agriculture committee (who have refused to get this "pet welfare" bill hearings) and the Board of Animal Health, who is led by livestock producers with duties directed primarily to dangerous animal disease and the food supply. This old state structure must be changed to make pet issues and concerns a priority. The Companion Animal Board bill shifts oversight, funding, and control to a new board led by experts in pet welfare. Learn more at ACTION.
In state government, oversight of pet issues is currently directed to agricultural (livestock) interests — this means any pet bills are directed to the Agriculture committee (who have refused to get this "pet welfare" bill hearings) and the Board of Animal Health, who is led by livestock producers with duties directed primarily to dangerous animal disease and the food supply. This old state structure must be changed to make pet issues and concerns a priority. The Companion Animal Board bill shifts oversight, funding, and control to a new board led by experts in pet welfare. Learn more at ACTION.
5. How will the Companion Animal Board be structured?
Minnesota government often creates boards to address specific issues, such as the Board of Pharmacy, Board of Nursing, Board of Veterinary Medicine, Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Board on Aging, and multiple other boards. As pets and the welfare of pets is a unique issue requiring specific expertise and knowledge, an independent board will be created with board members appointed by the Governor representing multiple disciplines (inclusive) in the pet sector. (See Section 3 in the bill for list.) This board will choose a director who will hire and lead staff to execute the duties of the law.
Minnesota government often creates boards to address specific issues, such as the Board of Pharmacy, Board of Nursing, Board of Veterinary Medicine, Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Board on Aging, and multiple other boards. As pets and the welfare of pets is a unique issue requiring specific expertise and knowledge, an independent board will be created with board members appointed by the Governor representing multiple disciplines (inclusive) in the pet sector. (See Section 3 in the bill for list.) This board will choose a director who will hire and lead staff to execute the duties of the law.
7. How will the Companion Animal Board grant program benefit Minnesota?
State resources will be focused on the greatest opportunities and most pressing problems affecting pets and the communities that care for them. The Companion Animal Board will conduct a statewide needs assessment and, based on this assessment, will identify priorities for grant funding. These grants will support and incentivize entities, including nonprofits (such as animal shelters), veterinary clinics, academic institutions, and local government, in their work to address pet-related problems in communities and provide for the needs of pets and their guardians.
State resources will be focused on the greatest opportunities and most pressing problems affecting pets and the communities that care for them. The Companion Animal Board will conduct a statewide needs assessment and, based on this assessment, will identify priorities for grant funding. These grants will support and incentivize entities, including nonprofits (such as animal shelters), veterinary clinics, academic institutions, and local government, in their work to address pet-related problems in communities and provide for the needs of pets and their guardians.
8. Why not create a new division under the Board of Animal Health to handle all pet issues?
Two pet laws (the dog and cat breeder law and kennel and dealer law) were directed to the Board of Animal Health (BAH) years ago because there was no other place in government to house these issues. This is still a problem today and is one of the main reasons why the Companion Animal Board (CAB) is needed.
The mission of the MN Board of Animal Health (BAH) is to control dangerous animal disease, especially with livestock production and the food supply. The majority of BAH board members, by law, are livestock producers and the majority of the BAH veterinarians and inspectors have livestock backgrounds. Pets in homes have vastly different needs than livestock. Pet welfare and the bond these animals have to people are not the BAH’s priority or expertise.
Once the Companion Animal Board (CAB) is established, the two pet laws will be transferred from the BAH to the CAB. This transfer will not only create higher efficiency and effectiveness for enforcement of these laws, it will also free up the Board of Animal Health to focus on dangerous disease concerns that continue to emerge, such as recent outbreaks of High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI), the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF), and Chronic Wasting Disease. Large-scale disease outbreaks have huge financial costs for the agricultural industry and a better-focused board could help minimize those financial impacts when the next disease hits.
Two pet laws (the dog and cat breeder law and kennel and dealer law) were directed to the Board of Animal Health (BAH) years ago because there was no other place in government to house these issues. This is still a problem today and is one of the main reasons why the Companion Animal Board (CAB) is needed.
The mission of the MN Board of Animal Health (BAH) is to control dangerous animal disease, especially with livestock production and the food supply. The majority of BAH board members, by law, are livestock producers and the majority of the BAH veterinarians and inspectors have livestock backgrounds. Pets in homes have vastly different needs than livestock. Pet welfare and the bond these animals have to people are not the BAH’s priority or expertise.
Once the Companion Animal Board (CAB) is established, the two pet laws will be transferred from the BAH to the CAB. This transfer will not only create higher efficiency and effectiveness for enforcement of these laws, it will also free up the Board of Animal Health to focus on dangerous disease concerns that continue to emerge, such as recent outbreaks of High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI), the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF), and Chronic Wasting Disease. Large-scale disease outbreaks have huge financial costs for the agricultural industry and a better-focused board could help minimize those financial impacts when the next disease hits.
9. Does the Companion Animal Board handle dangerous animal disease?
No. Authority to control and prevent dangerous and reportable animal diseases in Minnesota is handled by the MN Board of Animal Health (BAH) as directed by existing law: Chapter 35. As with the current system, any CAB employee or any veterinarian or individual suspecting or witnessing a dangerous animal disease must report it to the BAH. The CAB bill specifies this in its language: Section 2, clause d.
No. Authority to control and prevent dangerous and reportable animal diseases in Minnesota is handled by the MN Board of Animal Health (BAH) as directed by existing law: Chapter 35. As with the current system, any CAB employee or any veterinarian or individual suspecting or witnessing a dangerous animal disease must report it to the BAH. The CAB bill specifies this in its language: Section 2, clause d.
10. Does the Companion Animal Board handle animal cruelty?
No. Animal cruelty will not be handled by the Companion Animal Board. The Companion Animal Board deals with pets only (not all animals, as is animal cruelty law) and its focus is on pet welfare — civil law, not criminal law. The skills required to enforce animal cruelty statutes (Chapter 343) in Minnesota differ from skills required for pet welfare and enforcement of regulatory law. To address animal cruelty crimes for all species, another bill has been introduced at the MN Legislature: the Minnesota Office of Animal Protection - S.F. 3542/H.F. 3799.
No. Animal cruelty will not be handled by the Companion Animal Board. The Companion Animal Board deals with pets only (not all animals, as is animal cruelty law) and its focus is on pet welfare — civil law, not criminal law. The skills required to enforce animal cruelty statutes (Chapter 343) in Minnesota differ from skills required for pet welfare and enforcement of regulatory law. To address animal cruelty crimes for all species, another bill has been introduced at the MN Legislature: the Minnesota Office of Animal Protection - S.F. 3542/H.F. 3799.
11. Who supports creating a Companion Animal Board?
There is strong support for the Companion Animal Board. Thousands of Minnesotans and numerous organizations (see supporter list) from both metro and rural areas of Minnesota are publicly supporting a new board for Minnesota pets and all those who care for these animals.
There is strong support for the Companion Animal Board. Thousands of Minnesotans and numerous organizations (see supporter list) from both metro and rural areas of Minnesota are publicly supporting a new board for Minnesota pets and all those who care for these animals.
12. How are other states addressing the needs or pets and the communities that care for them?
When crafting language for the CAB bill, research was conducted on other states and how they handle companion animal issues. Multiple states have different programs related to pet welfare. Each state varies in the type of program and how each is administered and enforced. Some states have established a commission, office, or animal welfare fund to administer programs, such as statewide spay/neuter, that address community needs. Rather than have scattered programs or keep administration under agriculture, the Companion Animal Board will consolidate pet welfare issues under this new board and establish leadership with pet expertise to set priorities and guide decision-making.
When crafting language for the CAB bill, research was conducted on other states and how they handle companion animal issues. Multiple states have different programs related to pet welfare. Each state varies in the type of program and how each is administered and enforced. Some states have established a commission, office, or animal welfare fund to administer programs, such as statewide spay/neuter, that address community needs. Rather than have scattered programs or keep administration under agriculture, the Companion Animal Board will consolidate pet welfare issues under this new board and establish leadership with pet expertise to set priorities and guide decision-making.
13. Is there information I can give to my veterinarian about the bill?
Veterinarians who treat companion animals often see the needs firsthand. Give them facts about the bill. You can: 1) provide a fact sheet to him or her explaining the benefits of the CAB bill to the veterinary profession; and 2) have them contact us for a presentation to their clinic. The CAB coalition has been working closely with a veterinary advisory group for many years and welcome the support and ideas of veterinarians.
Veterinarians who treat companion animals often see the needs firsthand. Give them facts about the bill. You can: 1) provide a fact sheet to him or her explaining the benefits of the CAB bill to the veterinary profession; and 2) have them contact us for a presentation to their clinic. The CAB coalition has been working closely with a veterinary advisory group for many years and welcome the support and ideas of veterinarians.
14. Is this about pets or people? Are there studies proving the health benefits of pets to people?
This bill addresses the needs of both pets and people. Companion animals are, by definition, providing companionship and enjoyment to humans. Numerous nonprofit organizations, veterinary clinics, and businesses provide services and resources to people who care for pets — and, with the growth of the pet sector, these entities need support. COVID proved how important pets are to people's mental health. (During COVID, the CAB coalition collected stories from Minnesotans about their pet and the bond.) Numerous studies have been conducted defining these health benefits. Research shows benefits of having a pet (i.e., "a record 90 percent said their pet helped them cope emotionally with the pandemic."). Learn more about the human-animal bond at HABRI.
This bill addresses the needs of both pets and people. Companion animals are, by definition, providing companionship and enjoyment to humans. Numerous nonprofit organizations, veterinary clinics, and businesses provide services and resources to people who care for pets — and, with the growth of the pet sector, these entities need support. COVID proved how important pets are to people's mental health. (During COVID, the CAB coalition collected stories from Minnesotans about their pet and the bond.) Numerous studies have been conducted defining these health benefits. Research shows benefits of having a pet (i.e., "a record 90 percent said their pet helped them cope emotionally with the pandemic."). Learn more about the human-animal bond at HABRI.
