Types of AWA Licensees and Registrants

Dealers
Dealers are individuals who sell regulated animals for research, exhibition or as pets in wholesale channels.  The AWA also covers dealers who sell dogs and cats through wholesale channels for the purposes of hunting, breeding, and security. Dealers can hold a USDA license in one of two classes.

Class A licensees are those individuals who deal only in animals that they breed and raise.  Class B licensees may breed and raise some of the animals they sell but typically buy and resell animals from other sources.  Class B dealers include brokers, operators of auction sales, and bunchers—those who supply dealers with dogs, cats, and other regulated animals collected from random sources.

In FY 2009, there were nine Class B dealers selling dogs and cats to research facilities. This number is down from more than 100 in the early 1990's.

Licensed Dealers, FY 2005–2009

FY	Total Dealers	Class A Dealers	Class B Dealers
2009	4929	3898	1031
2008	6568	5275	1293
2007	5,239	4,218	1,021
2006	5,194	4,202	995
2005	4,500	3,625	875

Exhibitors
Animal exhibitors are public or private entities that either obtain, sell, trade (or otherwise dispose of) animals in commerce and exhibit them for compensation. Compensation is not limited to monetary compensation and in the case of zoos, compensation is not required for the facility to meet the definition of “exhibitor.”

Exhibitors are licensed and typically operate animal acts, carnivals, circuses, public zoos, “roadside zoos,” or marine mammal displays.  Many of the animals exhibited are species not native to the United States (e.g., nonhuman primates and exotic cats), but exhibited species may also include domestic farm animals and wild animals native to this country.

Regulated Exhibitors, FY 2005–2009

FY	Total Exhibitors
2009	2732
2008	2899
2007	2,490
2006	2,373
2005	2,146

Carriers and Intermediate Handlers
Carriers registered with USDA include airlines, motor freight lines, railroads, and other shipping businesses.  Registered intermediate handlers are ground freight handlers.  Intermediate handlers usually (1) provide services for animals between consignor and carrier and from carrier to consignee, and (2) care for animals delayed in transit.

Sites and Registered Carriers and Intermediate Handlers, FY 2005–2009

FY	Registered Carriers	Intermediate Handlers
2009	246	256
2008	243	302
2007	186	246
2006	180	253
2005	156	222

Research facilities
Facilities that use animals (as defined by the AWA) for research, teaching, tests or experiments must be registered under the AWA.  Such facilities can include hospitals, colleges and universities, diagnostic laboratories, and many private firms in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

All research facilities that meet AWA specifications for regulation are required to comply with the AWA’s regulations and standards and undergo annual inspections.  Federal research facilities, though not registered or inspected under the AWA, are also responsible for maintaining compliance with the AWA’s regulations and standards.

Registered Research Facilities and Sites, FY 2005–2009

AWA Licensee and Registrant Inspection Reports

Animal Care conducts unannounced compliance inspections of the facilities of all licensees and registrants to ensure they are operating within the regulations. Reports for these inspections are available through our searchable database.

• View Inspection Report Database
  

Research Facility Annual Reports

Under the AWA, research facilities are required yearly to file APHIS Form 7023, Annual Report of Research Facility, which contains data on the number of animals and types of research conducted.

• View Research Facility Annual Reports