Outdoor Playtime for Puppies Should be Mandatory!
25,683 signatures toward our 50,000 Goal
Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site
Tell the government that puppies in kennels across the country need the freedom to play!
The importance of outdoor play time for dogs cannot be overstated, but it's sadly ignored by a large amount of breeders in the United States.
Dogs need exercise every day, during their formative years and beyond, if they are to grow and thrive. It's physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy for them, Pet Place maintains1, and can involve as little as 15 minutes of strenuous activity a day.
Animals that don't have room to grow are often destined to suffer from behavioral issues for the rest of their lives. And all too often are these issues more than some unprepared pet parents can handle, resulting in individuals and families surrendering their dogs at rapidly crowding shelters.
One study from Bristol University indicates that dogs who aren't allowed enough daily play time are more likely to develop anxiety and aggression, and a tendency to whine, jump up, or ignore commands2.
Race Foster, DVM, affirms that pets should be given as much outdoor time as possible, where their senses can be stimulated, something their minds do not benefit from when cooped up inside3.
Despite these facts, breeders across the country keep dogs kenneled up sometimes up to 24 hours a day in substandard facilities. The Humane Society of the United States4 and members of Congress have been pressing the USDA to "close loopholes" in the USDA's approach to pet breeding regulation, but previous efforts to require breeders to implement daily exercise languished in congress, unable to garner enough votes to pass.
Just as dogs need exercise and play time when they are in loving, forever homes, they need it even more when they're very young and developing. Sign the petition to tell the House and Senate subcommittees on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry to mandate daily playtime for puppies in breeding facilities across the United States!
- Eamonn Lynch (28 March 2016), "Why It's Important for Dogs to Play."
- Darren Langdridge, Jamie Lawson, Archives of Sexual Behavior (8 August 2019), "The Psychology of Puppy Play: A Phenomenological Investigation."
- Race Foster, DVM "The Importance of Outdoor Time."
- The Humane Society of the United States (27 April 2021), "Puppy Protection Act would end some of the worst puppy mill cruelties."
The Petition:
To the House and Senate subcommittees on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry,
Puppies in breeding facilities around the country are languishing in kennels, and in desperate need of time to play outside. Legislation from your department could mandate daily playtime for these growing dogs, and insure they get the room they need to flourish.
Dogs who aren't allowed enough daily play time are more likely to develop anxiety and aggression, and a tendency to whine, jump up, or ignore commands.
Despite these facts, breeders across the country keep dogs kenneled up sometimes up to 24 hours a day in substandard facilities.
It's time breeding facilities implement daily exercise for the animals they are responsible for, and prevent countless more cases of undue pain and suffering.
Previous efforts to require breeders to implement daily exercise languished in congress, unable to garner enough votes to pass.
I demand you take the initiative and amend the Animal Welfare Act by pushing forward legislation to protect animals across our country!
Sincerely,
