Goldie’s Act (H.R. 349): Federal Legislation to Protect Dogs in Puppy Mills

At any given time, hundreds of thousands of vulnerable animals are languishing in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-licensed facilities, including puppy mills. Although the Animal Welfare Act was designed to protect these animals, the USDA is failing to enforce even its most basic provisions, such as ensuring clean food and water, clean and safe housing and veterinary care. This lack of enforcement emboldens bad actors who routinely violate the law and leaves animals to suffer and die.

Congress can fix this problem by passing the bipartisan Goldie’s Act, which would strengthen the agency’s enforcement responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act and protect animals, including dogs in puppy mills, from suffering and dying under the USDA’s watch.

Goldie’s Act is named after Golder Retriever #142, who was a victim of one of the most egregious puppy mill cases we have seen to date. She lived without clean food and water, love or space to play. She was even denied a name until we gave her one when we learned about her and the heartbreaking way she died. We remember her as Goldie.

Goldie

Goldie’s Act is endorsed by more than 150 national, state and local organizations.

View Organizations

Inclusion on this endorsement list does not imply partnership with the ASPCA.

  • Animal Legal Defense Fund, USA
  • Animal Welfare Institute, USA
  • Best Friends Animal Society, USA
  • National Animal Care and Control Association, USA
  • National Sheriff's Association, USA
  • Small & Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association, USA
  • Alaska SPCA, AK
  • Bullock County Humane Society, AL
  • East Alabama Humane Society Inc, AL
  • Hoof or Paw, AL
  • Humane Society of Elmore County, AL
  • RESCUES ON85TH, AL
  • Greener Days Ahead Rescue, AR
  • Humane Society of Saline County, AR
  • Last Chance Arkansas, AR
  • Northeast Arkansas Humane Society, AR
  • Pitter Pat Junction, AR
  • Searcy County Humane Society, AR
  • Stone County Humane Society, AR
  • The Good Shepherd Humane Society Inc., AR
  • Unconditional Love Pet Rescue, AR
  • Arizona Humane Society, AZ
  • Fearless Kitty Rescue, AZ
  • Rescue a Golden of Arizona, AZ
  • Rover's Rest Stop, AZ
  • Fallbrook Animal Sanctuary, CA
  • Lockwood Animal Rescue Center, CA
  • Old Blue, CA
  • Shadow’s Fund, CA
  • START Rescue, CA
  • We Care Animal Rescue, CA
  • Animal Rescue of the Rockies, CO
  • Colorado Citizens for Canine Welfare, CO
  • Colorado Herding Dog Rescue, CO
  • Colorado Humane Society, CO
  • Colorado Voters for Animals, CO
  • Environmental Chemistry Services Inc., CO
  • Humane Society of Boulder Valley, CO
  • PawSafe Animal Rescue, CT
  • Animal Rescue Corps, DC
  • Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, DC
  • Humane Rescue Alliance, DC
  • Humane Rescue Alliance, DC
  • Faithful Friends Animal Society, DE
  • Fallen Oak Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation, FL
  • Florida Urgent Rescue, FL
  • For the Love of Cats, FL
  • Halifax Humane Society, FL
  • Humane Society of Manatee County, FL
  • Humane Society of Tampa Bay, FL
  • Lake City Humane Society, FL
  • Mercy Full Project, FL
  • Operation:SNIP Inc., FL
  • Second Chance Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, FL
  • SPCA of Brevard, FL
  • Sunny Side Up Rescue, FL
  • The Cat Network Inc., FL
  • Tiny Acres Northwest Florida Inc., FL
  • Tri County Animal Rescue, FL
  • Adopt a Golden Atlanta, GA
  • Savannah Wildlife Rescue Center, GA
  • Catsnip Hawaii, HI
  • Animal Rescue League of Iowa, IA
  • Cedar Valley Humane Society, IA
  • Iowa State Sheriff’s and Deputy’s Association, IA
  • It Takes A Village Animal Rescue and Resources, IA
  • Kings Harvest Pet Rescue, IA
  • Paws and More, IA
  • Siouxland Humane Society, IA
  • Idaho Humane Society, Inc., ID
  • SNARF Rescue, ID
  • Tails Humane Society, IL
  • Brown County Humane Society Inc., IN
  • HELP the Animals Inc., IN
  • Vanderburgh Humane Society, IN
  • Woodhaven Rescue Farm, IN
  • Pawnee County Humane Society, KS
  • The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, KS
  • Daviess County Animal Care and Control, KY
  • Grant County (KY) Friends of the Shelter, KY
  • Shamrock Pet Foundation Inc., KY
  • Boston Veterinary Clinic, MA
  • Baltimore Humane Society, MD
  • Four-Legged Forgotten Oldies Senior Animal Farm, MD
  • Maryland SPCA, MD
  • The Humane Society of Harford County Inc., MD
  • Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, ME
  • All About Animals Rescue, MI
  • Friends for Animals Of Metro Detroit, MI
  • Humane Animal Treatment Society, MI
  • Humane Society of Huron Valley, MI
  • Humane Society of Macomb, MI
  • Michigan Anti Cruelty Society, MI
  • Michigan Humane, MI
  • VegMichigan, MI
  • Borderland Humane Society, MN
  • Carver Scott Humane Society, MN
  • Great River Rescue, MN
  • Minnesota Animal Services Alliance, MN
  • Minnesota Humane Society, MN
  • Pennington County Humane Society, MN
  • Pope County Humane Society, MN
  • Retrieve a Golden from the Midwest, MN
  • Ruff Start Rescue, MN
  • Secondhand Hounds, MN
  • Sundown Horse Rescue, MN
  • The Rescue Crew, MN
  • The Rescue Pack, MN
  • Wadena County Humane Society, MN
  • GIDDYUP Horse & Animal Rescue Inc., MO
  • No Time to Spare Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, MO
  • Owl Hollow Farm (501C.3), MO
  • Pet Resource Center of Kansas City, MO
  • Stover Animal Rescue Inc., MO
  • Stray Rescue of St. Louis, MO
  • Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue, MO
  • Mississippi Animal Rescue League, MS
  • Spay Montana, MT
  • Feral Cat Coalition of Cumberland of County, NC
  • North Carolina Animal Federation, NC
  • Phoenix Rescue and Healing Farm, NC
  • Souris Valley Animal Shelter, ND
  • Dolly's Legacy Animal Rescue, NE
  • Midwest Wheaten Rescue, NE
  • Nebraska Humane Society, NE
  • Shepherd's Rest Goat and Sheep Rescue, NE
  • New Hampshire Humane Society, NH
  • Eleventh Hour Rescue, NJ
  • Monmouth County SPCA, NJ
  • West Jersey Volunteers for Animals, NJ
  • Washoe County Regional Animal Services, NV
  • Animal Rights Rochester, NY
  • Coming Home Animal Sanctuary Inc., NY
  • New York Cat Hospital, NY
  • Paws Crossed Animal Rescue, NY
  • Phoenix Rising Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation, NY
  • SPCA Westchester, NY
  • Veterinary Hospital and Clinic of East Hampton pc, NY
  • Voters for Animal Rights, NY
  • Cleveland Animal Protective League, OH
  • Ohio Animal Advocates, OH
  • Secondhand Mutts, OH
  • Bella SPCA, OK
  • Gypsy Heritage Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation, OK
  • Tulsa SPCA, OK
  • Equamore Foundation, OR
  • Lark Ranch Rescue and Rehabilitation, OR
  • Oregon Humane Society, OR
  • Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon, OR
  • Animal Care Sanctuary, PA
  • Animals Can't Talk, PA
  • Heart of Glass Animal Rescue, PA
  • Humane Society of Greene County, PA
  • Pennsylvania Sheriffs' Association, PA
  • The Spayed Club, PA
  • Providence Animal Rescue League, RI
  • LowCountry Animal Rescue, SC
  • Almost Home Rescue, SD
  • Kenzie Consulting, TN
  • Gulf Coast Humane Society, TX
  • Mutley Crue Pet Sitting, TX
  • Texas Humane Legislation Network, TX
  • Animal Welfare League of Arlington, VA
  • Yellow Dog Potter-Pots for Paw, VA
  • Homeward Bound Addison County's Humane Society, VT
  • Auburn Valley Humane Society, WA
  • Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, WA
  • Northwest Organization for Animal Help, WA
  • Spokane Humane Society, WA
  • Dane County Humane Society, WI
  • West Virginia Chiefs of Police Association, WV
  • Casper Humane Society, WY

If you represent an organization that wishes to join this list of endorsers, please do so here.

Bill Resources:

Download our Goldie’s Act fact sheet [PDF]

View the 119th Congress bill text [PDF]

View House cosponsors

What Goldie’s Act Would Do

Introduced by a bipartisan team of legislators, Goldie’s Act would require the USDA to fulfill its obligation under the AWA to protect dogs in puppy mills — a responsibility the USDA has ignored for far too long.

The legislation would require the USDA to:

  • Conduct more frequent and meaningful inspections of the facilities it licenses.
  • Remove animals who are suffering.
  • Impose deterring penalties for Animal Welfare Act violations.
  • Share inspection information in a timely manner with local law enforcement who can investigate cruelty.

Why We Need Goldie’s Act

The USDA’s failure to enforce the Animal Welfare Act continues to result in animals suffering and dying in USDA-licensed facilities

The USDA routinely observes animals suffering in facilities it licenses, including dogs with untreated diseases and injuries, emaciated dogs, dogs left in extreme hot or cold temperatures and dogs living in small and filthy cages. Yet, even in the face of such cruelty the USDA rarely utilizes its available enforcement tools like removing animals, issuing fines and penalties and suspending or permanently revoking a license.

The USDA’s failure to enforce the law is long-standing and systematic.

Audits from the USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) and recent reports from the Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Research Service document the agency’s persistent failure to adequately enforce its own laws and regulations. The government has acknowledged these enforcement problems for decades. In fact, thirty years of OIG audits chronicle the USDA’s poor enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. The OIG’s most recent 2025 report states that “APHIS’ inconsistent and untimely inspections may have contributed to the dog breeders’ continued violation of AWA requirements. As a result, the licensed dog breeders’ pattern of continued noncompliance … poses a threat to the well-being and safety of their dogs, leaving them vulnerable to neglect, mistreatment, and suffering.”

Despite the USDA’s acknowledgement that inspections are its main mechanism for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, facilities go years without inspections, and violations frequently go unreported.

Evidence shows that many USDA facilities operate for years without a single inspection, allowing animal suffering to go undetected. In 2024, for example, the USDA oversaw more than 17,500 animal businesses but only conducted 6,300 compliance inspections. When inspections do happen, USDA policies direct inspectors not to document certain violations.

Furthermore, under the Animal Welfare Act, the USDA has the authority to issue penalties, including temporarily suspending a license or permanently revoking a license, subject to a hearing. However, the agency’s overwhelming response to violations is to do nothing. In fiscal year 2024, more than 330 dog dealers had documented violations, yet the agency took action against only three.

USDA policies and practices burden state and local law enforcement and the animal welfare community.

The USDA repeatedly fails to inform state and local law enforcement of suspected cruelty. By the time these agencies are made aware, violations have spiraled out of control, leaving law enforcement and the animal welfare community shouldering the immense burden of conducting rescue operations.

Goldie’s Story

Goldie was one of hundreds of dogs kept in horrific conditions by an Iowa-based, USDA-licensed breeder who supplied puppies to pet stores around the country. The USDA allowed this breeder to operate for 17 months without ever checking on the welfare of the animals. When the USDA finally inspected his facilities, they found dead dogs, dogs with untreated injuries and illnesses like parvovirus and distemper, dogs with painful fur matting, dogs in cages that were too small, insect infestations and moldy food. That nightmarish place is where Goldie and many other dogs spent their entire lives. USDA inspectors observed Goldie’s condition worsen month after month. The USDA had the authority to help her, but it chose not to. As a result, Goldie died in that puppy mill.

The ASPCA worked alongside local law enforcement to rescue the remaining 500 dogs from this breeder, but by that time, the breeder had already amassed more than 100 Animal Welfare Act violations, and many dogs had already died.

Shockingly, this story is not unique. At a separate facility in Virginia operated by Envigo RMS, the USDA documented horrific animal suffering for months but did not intervene. Hundreds of puppies died from “unknown causes,” nursing mothers were denied food for days, dogs with severe, untreated medical conditions were not given the care they needed, and dogs were euthanized without anesthesia. Also, countless dogs were killed by kennel mates because Envigo failed to ensure that all dogs had sufficient food and space. Like the Iowa case, emergency rescue for nearly 4,000 remaining dogs only occurred after countless dogs died.

It is too late to save Goldie and the thousands of dogs who have died in dreadful conditions under the USDA’s watch, but we can prevent other dogs from meeting the same fate by passing Goldie’s Act

To read more about the USDA’s pattern of failing to protect dogs in commercial breeding facilities, please visit these links:

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