Enforce pet safety law

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is failing at one of its most basic jobs: enforcing the Animal Welfare Act. The numbers are staggering. At commercial dog breeding facilities, also known as puppy mills, the USDA documented violations for more than 300 dog dealers in 2024, yet took enforcement action against only three. And despite clear evidence of suffering, no dogs were removed. In fact, no dogs have been removed from any dog breeding facility in over five years.

This complete collapse of oversight has allowed thousands of dogs in puppy mills to languish in filthy, unsafe conditions without medical care, food or clean water. The USDA’s refusal to act leaves enforcement of federal law essentially nonexistent.

Goldie’s Act (H.R. 349) would restore accountability. It requires the USDA to conduct meaningful inspections, document and report all violations, remove suffering animals, and assess penalties for those who break the law. These reforms are urgently needed to end the agency’s pattern of inaction.

I urge Rep. Sean Casten to cosponsor Goldie's Act and urge Senators Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth to cosponsor Goldie's Act when it's introduced in the U.S. Senate and ensure my taxpayer dollars support real enforcement.

Ashton Tunk

Lombard