• Animal Welfare
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• Publications, Forms and Guidance Documents

Publications, Forms and Guidance Documents

Animal Welfare Act

• Animal Welfare Act [Factsheet]
• El Acta del Bienestar Animal [Factsheet in Spanish]
• Animal Welfare Act and Regulations [The “Blue Book”]
• 1979 Marine Mammal Final Rule
  
• Licensing and Registration under the Animal Welfare Act: Guidelines for Dealers, Exhibitors, Transporters, and Researchers [September 2018]
• Animal Welfare Inspection Guide
• Animal Care Creates New Process for Appealing Animal Welfare Act Inspection Report [Tech Note]
• Daily Observation of Regulated Animals [Tech Note]
• Upholding the Animal Welfare Act
• Standard Operating Procedures for Remote Pre-License Inspections
• Standard Operating Procedures for Resuming Facility Inspections During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Standard Operating Procedures for Remote Routine Inspections
• Social Distancing Guidelines on AWA Inspections

Federal Register Notices

• Animal Welfare Act (AWA) Federal Register Notices

Additional Guidance Documents

• Brucellosis and Dog Kennels: What Breeders Need to Know
• Best Practices for Brucella canis Prevention and Control in Dog Breeding Facilities
• Handling and Husbandry of Neonatal Nondomestic Cats

Exotic Animals

• Advisory Notice: Limiting close contact between members of the public and nondomestic cats during the COVID Pandemic
• Comparable Standards Evaluation For Foreign Facilities

Miscellaneous

• Questions and Answers: Dog Activities Requiring a USDA License/Registration [Tech Note]
• Questions and Answers: Importing Live Dogs Into the United States [Tech Note]
• Using Cage Cards to Identify Puppies and Kittens [Tech Note]
• Temperature and Humidity in Dog Kennels [Tech Note]
• The Animal Welfare Act Provisions on Animal Fighting [Factsheet]

Animal Care Aids

• Keeping Animals Safe During Emergencies
  
• Canine Periodontal Disease (PD)
• Monitoring for Periodontal Disease (PD) in Dogs
• Preventive Care for Periodontal Disease (PD) in Dogs
• Coat Care: Preventing Matted Hair
• Maternal Stress and Puppy Development
• Early Rearing Environment
• Socialization
• Identifying Healthy and Unhealthy Skin in Dogs
• Common Skin Disorders in Dogs
• Clean Housing is Vital to Guinea Pig Health
• Guinea Pigs Do Best When Housed at the Right Temperature
• Minimizing Stress Helps Keep Guinea Pigs Healthy
• Options for Meeting Social Needs of Primates
• Primates: Natural Social Groupings and Compatibility
• Supporting Natural Behaviors in Primates
• Enrichment Devices for Primates
• Primates: Special Needs of Infants and Young Juveniles
• Special Needs of Primates Showing Signs of Psychological Distress
• Special Needs of Primates With Research Restrictions
• Special Needs of Primates Unable To See or Hear Other Primates
• Primates: Special Needs of Great Apes
• Bear Nutrition and Winter Lethargy
• Bear Husbandry and Habitat
• Veterinary Care for Bears
• Environmental Enrichment for Bears
• Feeding Nondomestic Cats
• Metabolic Bone Disease in Nondomestic Cats
• Tips and Calculations: Adding Calcium to Boneless Meat Diets for Nondomestic Cats
• Daily Observations: Physical Health
• Daily Observations: Behavior
• Tips for Shelter and Housing at Drive-Through Animal Parks
• Managing Animals and Veterinary Care at Drive-Through Parks
• Public Feeding of Animals in Petting Zoos and Other Settings
• Protecting Giraffes in Cold Weather
  
• Semi-Aquatic Animals
• Mammals That Fly or Glide

Recruitment

• Animal Care Externship Program - Explore. Experience. Connect. [Factsheet]

Forms for USDA Licensees/Registrants

To ensure the well-being of our employees, Animal Care has limited access to mail at this time. To expedite the application and renewal process we are now accepting applications and renewals online at animalcare@usda.gov or by phone at (970) 494-7478. We can process your credit card over the phone. If you submit your renewal fee by mailing in a check, call the office. We will take your information and process your renewal over the phone but theremay be a delay in cashing mailed checks. Please utilize the form below and call (970) 494-7478 with any questions you may have, or to receive help with your application or renewal.

• APHIS Form 7002 - Animal Care - Program of Veterinary Care
• APHIS Form 7002a - Animal Care - Program of Veterinary Care for Dogs
• APHIS Form 7003 - Application for License (Renewal)
• APHIS Form 7003A - Application for License (New)
• APHIS Form 7005 - Record of Acquisition of Dogs and Cats
• APHIS Form 7006 - Record of Disposition of Dogs and Cats
• APHIS Form 7006A - Continuation Sheet for Record of Disposition of Dogs and Cats
• APHIS Form 7019- Record of Animals On-Hand (Other than Dogs and Cats)   
• APHIS Form 7020 - Record of Acquisition, Disposition or Transport of Animals (Other than Dogs and Cats)
• APHIS Form 7023 - Annual Report of Research Facility
• APHIS Form 7023a - Continuation Sheet for Annual Report of Research Facility
• Click to order - Animal Care Forms