Shownotes
Dr. Tess House, DVM, MPH, dives into a topic that can spark strong opinions: commercial dog breeding kennels. If you've ever wondered what veterinarians can do to improve animal welfare in these facilities, or what standards, oversight, and welfare programs actually look like behind the scenes, this episode breaks it all down in a thoughtful and practical way. You'll learn about USDA licensing, programs of veterinary care, canine welfare assessments, and how veterinarians can help breeders and pet owners make better decisions for dogs. Gang, let's get into this episode!
Resources Mentioned
Sample APHIS Forms
Canine Welfare
AVMA Resources
- 2025 Pet Ownership & Demographic Sourcebook
- Attending Veterinarians & Commercial Dog Breeders
- Preserving Antimicrobial Effectiveness
Mentioned in this episode:
Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy Roark
Inside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.
Register for Office Hours here!
Transcripts
dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Welcome everybody to the Cone
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:of Shame veterinary podcast.
3
:Guys, I got a really good one today.
4
:I gotta tell you.
5
:I am, I'm still sitting and thinking
a lot about this episode I have Dr.
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:Tess House on today.
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:She is the, assistant director for
the animal welfare division of A VMA.
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:And we are talking about, we're
talking about commercial dog breeding
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:kennels, and there's a lot here.
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:I want to tell you guys going
in, you tested this lecture at,
11
:Western Vet Conference and it,
got really spicy in the room.
12
:And some of that I think are,
are questions about commercial
13
:dog breeding, what that's like.
14
:I am really interested in the
animal welfare side of it.
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:There's a lot of people, and I totally
understand, there's a lot of people
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:who think this shouldn't happen.
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:We shouldn't have commercial
breeding operations for dogs,
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:especially when we have pets in
the shelter, pets that need homes.
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:I def, I definitely understand that.
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:I don't want anybody to see this as, um.
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:A pro, this is where
dogs should come from.
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:idea that we're talking about today.
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:I think the reality of it for
me is this, is, this happens.
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:this is how, I'm in the United States.
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:this is how it's set
commercial dog breeding.
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:It definitely does happen
given that it is happening.
27
:What does that mean from an
animal welfare standpoint?
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:how do we support the animal welfare
of pets inside the system that we have?
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:And so anyway, that's very
much where I'm coming from.
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:as we get into this.
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:It's still, it's a lot to get your
head around, a bit, especially
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:when we start talking about larger.
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:breeding operations and things like that.
34
:And so anyway, I think Tessa is wonderful.
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:I really like her a lot.
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:I've enjoyed every
interaction I've had with her.
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:I, I like the work that she's doing
for animal and also this said,
38
:if this topic is upsetting to you,
this might be an episode to skip.
39
:but, but for the most part, I just,
I found this really fascinating.
40
:There's a lot I hear that I
just, I didn't know about.
41
:I, and it just gives me a lot to think on.
42
:And I can't help but wonder, are
there ways for me as a veterinarian
43
:to, to educate clients to help
create a better world for dogs?
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:And so anyway, that's what
we're do in this episode.
45
:Anyway, I'll stop talking about it
and then we'll just get right into it.
46
:Let's do it.
47
:Kelsey Beth Carpenter: This is your show.
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:We're glad you're here.
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:We want to help you in
your veterinary career.
50
:Welcome to the Cone of Shame with Dr.
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:Andy Roark.
52
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Ooh, welcome to the show, Dr.
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:Tess House.
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:How are you, my friend?
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:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Good.
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:Thanks so much for having me here, Andy.
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:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045: It
is a absolute pleasure to have you here.
58
:you and I met after the WVC conference
in Las Vegas was ending, and we
59
:were in the airport, I think,
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:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yes.
61
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
leaving.
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:And I was like, what?
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:How did it go?
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:What did you speak about?
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:And you said, oh, I did this
lecture, and as soon as I heard
66
:you talking about it, I said.
67
:I want to hear more about this.
68
:I wanna have you on
the show and talk more.
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:For those who do not know you, you
are the assistant director of a
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:animal welfare division at A VMA.
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:You
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:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yes.
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:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
you are a veterinarian.
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:did the lecture at WVC and you've
done a couple times since I believe.
75
:Called how Vets Can Improve Animal Welfare
at commercial dog breeding kennels.
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:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yes.
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:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
I think you had had a pretty
78
:excellent, attendance at the
conference, where we were, and I
79
:wanted to talk to you about that.
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:So lay it out for me at a high level.
81
:when I think about this is sort of an
area of veterinary medicine, honestly,
82
:test that I haven't thought much about.
83
:Talk to me a little bit about what
that, what does that even mean for
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:veterinarians to help animal welfare
at commercial dog breeding, kennels.
85
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yeah.
86
:So let's start off with definitions and
what do I mean by commercial dog breeding?
87
:so when I use that phrase, I'm
referring to breeders that are
88
:required to be licensed with the USDA.
89
:Now, depending upon where you live,
what state or what, municipality
90
:or what county, there might be
some extra levels of regulation
91
:that you have to comply with.
92
:But I'm looking at, on the national
level, and there's a few different
93
:boxes that a breeder will need
to check in order to meet those
94
:requirements where they need a license.
95
:So the first one is that ultimately the
intended goal of the puppies that they're
96
:producing is for companionship purposes.
97
:So there's a few caveats, that get into
the weeds with animals bred for research
98
:and for hunting dogs, interestingly.
99
:but for companionship,
that is the primary focus.
100
:The second box they need to check
is that they have more than four
101
:breeding females, so five or more
breeding females in our program.
102
:And then the last, and this is really the
one that makes them different from the
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:majority of show hobby, community breeder
clients that you see in small animal
104
:private practice, is that commercial dog
breeders will sell their puppies and their
105
:adult dogs sight unseen to the pet owner.
106
:So this means that they're usually
selling them through online sales.
107
:Or possibly they work with a dog
broker, which is essentially a
108
:middleman that helps move puppies
from one location to areas where there
109
:are pet owners looking for puppies.
110
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045: that
would not be like a commercial pet store.
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:That would not count as a middleman,
112
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Actually
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:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
like a dog
114
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
it would include finding puppies.
115
:So if you happen to be, or your
client happens to be at a pet store
116
:and they see a puppy that they're
interested in, they should be
117
:able to find out what kennel that.
118
:Puppy came from, and also look up
online that USDA licensed breeder.
119
:So there's actually a tool online
on the USDA's website called their
120
:Animal Care Public Search Tool.
121
:And you can go online and find out how
many active licenses there currently are.
122
:and you can look.
123
:By licensed type.
124
:And so the majority of the breeders
that we're talking about today are gonna
125
:be class A breeders where they breed
dogs on the site of their kennel and
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:the puppies are raised there on site.
127
:And, that information you can.
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:Search and you can look
and see inspection reports.
129
:You can look and see if there's been
any previous, violations or any sort
130
:of, compliance issues with the breeders.
131
:all of that information can be found
through the public search tool.
132
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045: So is
it mandatory if you have a dog breeder and
133
:they've got, say, more than six breeding
dogs, more than five that we laid out,
134
:say they got six or eight or whatever,
are they required to be licensed or is
135
:it an optional thing that they opt into?
136
:how robust, is this sort
of licensing process?
137
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
It really comes down to how they sell
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:the puppies and their adult dogs.
139
:So if they're selling face-to-face, they
would not fall under that category of re
140
:being required to have A-U-S-D-A license.
141
:So that is the big difference, and
that's why, commercial dog breeders,
142
:are a little bit less well known.
143
:another reason is that they're,
they tend to be most heavily
144
:concentrated in the Midwest.
145
:places like Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
146
:that tends to be where we see more of the
commercial dog breeders because they have
147
:more agricultural space, and it's better
to have these larger areas for a dog, ke.
148
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
So when we talk about commercial dog
149
:breeders, you say you have to have
a, it's at least five breeding dogs.
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:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yep.
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:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
But my impression from hearing you
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:talk is that these operations are
sometimes significantly bigger.
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:what are we talking about on average here?
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:If I said, tell me the average number
of dogs that I would find out one
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:of these facilities, just at, a spot
in the Midwest, and I'd be like,
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:oh, this is what it's like, what?
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:What's that number?
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:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
It can really range.
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:So I've been to kennels where they
had about six breeding females,
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:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045: Okay.
161
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
smaller size operation.
162
:I've been to quite a few that
have had dogs within the 20 to 30.
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:Dog range, and then the largest one
that I've been to, they probably
164
:had around 65 to 70 dogs, is the
largest facility that I've been to.
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:Mm-hmm.
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:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045: Okay,
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:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yeah.
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:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
when you go and you visit these
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:facilities, what are you looking
for in terms of animal welfare?
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:Like what are the marks of quality and
what are the areas of concern that you
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:have in these types of organizations?
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:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yeah, one of the first things
173
:that I look at is how are the dogs
responding to me when I show up?
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:I believe very firmly in biosecurity.
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:I also have masters in public health, so
I always wanna be very sensitive to not
176
:introducing any diseases to these areas.
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:So I'll wear shoe covers and, I'll
take a peek and see how are the dogs
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:responding to me wearing shoe covers.
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:I'll see if the dogs are
at the front of the kennel.
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:Are they barking?
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:Are they excited?
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:or are they tucked back a little bit
more towards the back of the kennel
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:or trying to go outside into the
outdoor run portion of the kennel?
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:So the body language and behavior.
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:That's one of the first
things that I look at.
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:And really looking at the dog's
body language tells me quite a bit.
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:I can tell if dogs have had a
really, good socialization program
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:in that kennel because majority of
the time, before I even get into the
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:kennel, the breeder will, will say.
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:Doc, we've got one dog that's a
little shy that we're working on,
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:and if she doesn't work out, she's
not gonna be included in the program.
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:And sure enough, by the time I
pass that dog in her run, maybe
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:she's with some friends, maybe
she's with just one other friend.
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:I'll see that friend come up
and she'll tuck off to the back.
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:And I just still offer treats.
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:You know, I wanna have a positive
reinforcement for those dogs that when
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:they see a person, it's a good thing
and just move on to the next kennel.
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:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
what are the, your main concerns
199
:when we talk about animal welfare?
200
:what constitutes improper.
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:animal welfare treatment in a
sort of a commercial dog, kennel.
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:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
So it's really gonna come down to the
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:amount of staff or how many people you
have and the resources that you have.
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:So animal welfare, we can see situations
where we've only got one or two dogs
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:and there's poor welfare, and we can see
situations where there's 60 or 70 dogs.
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:And there was a staff of about
14 individuals at that particular
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:site, and it was well run.
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:so it really depends on the resources,
the time, the people, the training.
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:all of that comes together in terms of
how well are these animals cared for.
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:So first when we're looking at
these kennels, we're gonna be
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:looking at some of the basics.
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:So preventive care, we're looking at.
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:Deworming protocols and
vaccination protocols.
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:And how often are the adult
dogs getting regular checkups?
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:How often are they being tested?
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:For bru?
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:We want them to be testing, ideally, twice
a year or at least before every breeding.
218
:we also look at things like we.
219
:The overall layout of the building
and ventilation, heating, cooling.
220
:So some of these things that are
more facility specific are also
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:going to be critical to the physical
environment that the dogs are in.
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:And then we also think
about things like nutrition.
223
:so we know that the needs of females
that are, breeding are going to
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:have higher calorie requirements.
225
:We know that lactation is very,
very demanding on the body.
226
:but we also know that once weaning has
happened, that females should gradually
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:go back to their pre-pregnancy condition.
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:And depending upon how that individual
female dog is doing, she may be fine
229
:for being bred on her next cycle or.
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:Breeder and veterinarian might, do
a pre-breeding sauna exam and say,
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:Hey, she's got a little extra weight.
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:Let's hold off on this for right now.
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:Let's wait till she's at
a better weight right now.
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:So nutrition is also a big part of it.
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:and then we also have the behavioral
components, so interactions that
236
:the dogs are having with people.
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:What is the quality of those interactions?
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:Are they positive interactions?
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:Did the dogs seem to look forward to it?
240
:And also, what kinds of interactions
are the dogs having with other
241
:things in their environment?
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:Toys, outdoor play
equipment, things like that.
243
:And what kinds of, interactions are they
having with con specifics for other dogs?
244
:behavior, I like to break
down into three categories.
245
:Dogs interacting with people,
dogs interacting with things
246
:and dogs, interacting with
other dogs and other animals.
247
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
is there any kind of required
248
:veterinary monitoring here?
249
:we talk about this and doing breeding
exams and things like that as part of
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:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yeah.
251
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
having regular veterinarian and
252
:involvement and like what is the cadence
of that involvement if it exists?
253
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yeah, so if you are filing for a license,
254
:you need to identify a veterinarian that
you're going to be working with that
255
:will be your attending veterinarian.
256
:And this means that you and a
veterinarian you're working with are
257
:going to sit down and come up together
with a program of veterinary care.
258
:So that's gonna outline things like
your preventive care, plans, so
259
:your vaccination, your deworming.
260
:Schedules, all of those
provisions for emergency care.
261
:So, what's gonna happen if something
comes up, after the vet clinic's
262
:closed or it's on a weekend or it's
on a holiday, the plans can really get
263
:down into a lot of different, factors.
264
:we can even have, optional things
added, like about pest control
265
:and what they're doing for pest
control on the facility site.
266
:So like having fly tape up outside
so that hopefully the flies aren't
267
:bothering the dogs when they're.
268
:In the outdoor portions of the runs,
that can all be included as part
269
:of a program of veterinary care.
270
:And we also look at things like the dog's
behavioral and social needs, quarantine.
271
:How are we introducing new breeding stock?
272
:What kind of testing is being done
on animals before they're being bred?
273
:All of those things are woven
into and spelled out in the
274
:program of veterinary care.
275
:So it's really a playbook that
the veterinarian and breeder.
276
:Work on together and agree upon.
277
:And one of the things that is different
with commercial dog breeders as
278
:opposed to hobby or show or community
dog breeders, is that this program of
279
:veterinary care has some weight to it.
280
:They need to abide by this.
281
:if A-U-S-D-A inspector
shows up for an inspection.
282
:They need to know that
they're following the plan.
283
:And if they find a difference between
what's happening at the kennel and what's
284
:written in that program of veterinary
care, then there's gonna be a problem.
285
:so it really has essentially more teeth
or more weight to it in that program
286
:of veterinary care, because they need
to comply with the Animal Welfare
287
:Act as A-U-S-D-A licensed breeder,
288
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
So that was gonna be my next question.
289
:So they can have their
license pulled, I assume,
290
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
yes.
291
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
are like, what do penalties look like
292
:for facilities that are not maintaining
animal welfare standards or, yeah.
293
:they're not, on inspection.
294
:they're not meeting what they
were supposed to be doing.
295
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
It really depends on the
296
:level of the infraction.
297
:So if it's something like.
298
:maybe a piece of the facility
has a sharp corner or sharp edge,
299
:that would be something that would
be relatively easy to remedy.
300
:So they might cite that and then
the inspector returns back after
301
:a certain period of time to make
sure that the breeder has fixed it.
302
:if there are concerns with the care
of the animals or anything like that,
303
:then USDA has steps in place to notify,
the authorities and let them know that
304
:there are some animal welfare concerns.
305
:but it really depends on what it is that
the inspector's seen and also what is
306
:written in the program on veterinary care.
307
:And, how the animals are looking.
308
:So all of the USDA inspectors are going
to be trained as well to be looking
309
:at the animals and observing them.
310
:Also pulling up medical records.
311
:That is fair game for A-U-S-D-A
inspectors to pull up medical
312
:records for a particular animal.
313
:all of that goes into play.
314
:we're looking at anything from,
opportunities for them to correct
315
:something to, fines or fees that
they have to pay to losing their
316
:license if they're not, taking.
317
:Adequate care of these animals.
318
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Is there any consideration given
319
:to post breeding life for dogs?
320
:like we say, they're here and they're,
they're being used as breeding animals.
321
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Mm-hmm.
322
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
do, is there consideration.
323
:What happens after that phase of their
life is over and how they're treated?
324
:Then what is that
325
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yeah, I'm so glad you brought that up.
326
:retirement is crucial.
327
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045: Good.
328
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
a lot of the things that we think
329
:about, with a veterinary care,
we tend to default to the science
330
:stuff, the vaccines, the deworming.
331
:But really a good program of
veterinary care is gonna have
332
:socialization, environmental enrichment.
333
:Exercise plans in place,
which are required by USDA
334
:and retirement plans as well.
335
:So there's gonna be a discussion with
the breeder, okay, are we going to
336
:breed this female until she's five
years of age, maybe six years of age?
337
:Or alternatively, some people
pick a certain number of litters,
338
:For our females, we're only gonna
have them bred three times, four
339
:times, et cetera, or three litters,
or four litters, for example.
340
:sometimes not every mating takes.
341
:so there needs to be something in
place so that there is a plan and
342
:ultimately breeders are not gonna wanna
retain females that do not have good,
343
:Likelihood of conceiving or that have
a difficult time getting pregnant.
344
:so if they identify a female, say maybe
she's, having small litter sizes or maybe
345
:she had her first litter and we notice
she doesn't have great maternal instincts
346
:here, that dog should then be discussed.
347
:Is this really something we should
keep in our breeding program, or
348
:is that dog best served by being
spayed or being neutered if it's a
349
:meal and going into retirement home?
350
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
When you.
351
:Give these presentations, tests to
general practice vets the conferences
352
:or, we, before we started recording,
we talked and you were, spoke
353
:to the, to savma, the student, A
VMA at the vet schools and stuff.
354
:what are your big take home messages
for general practice vets and the
355
:veterinarians that hear you speak?
356
:what, what do you see value in
them taking away from a better
357
:understanding of commercial dog kennels?
358
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yeah, so I think there, there's a few
359
:main points that I like to hit with
them, and one is that a program of
360
:veterinary care is gonna be one of
the best ways for veterinarians to
361
:advocate for canine health and welfare.
362
:So regardless of USDA
license requiring one or not.
363
:I would recommend A DMA would
recommend that veterinarians are
364
:working with breeders to have these
programs of veterinary care in place.
365
:Another thing is that looking at the
data about dynamics of dog acquisition,
366
:and I know that sounds like a weird
word because we like to think of dogs,
367
:their family members, but animals have
that dual role of being a companion
368
:or being part of our family and
also being a commodity in essence.
369
:when we look at the data on where dogs
are coming from, people are getting
370
:their dogs from a variety of sources.
371
:We're unlikely as
veterinarians to change that.
372
:People are gonna get what they want,
so it's better to educate pet owners.
373
:On what to look for to ensure to the
best of our abilities as prospective pet
374
:owners and as future clients, that those
clients are acquiring a physically and
375
:a mentally healthy animal rather than
veterinarians focusing on the source type.
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:And that's one area that A VMA has
been starting to collect some data on.
377
:we do an annual survey and since 2023,
we've started asking the question, have
378
:you acquired a dog in the past two years?
379
:And if they respond that they've
gotten a dog, we ask them,
380
:where did you get the dog from?
381
:How much do you did you spend on that dog?
382
:And for every year that we've asked these
questions, the top response has been
383
:friend or family member has been where
most people have gotten their pets from.
384
:And after that, breeder is number two.
385
:and what's interesting is that
aligns with what we're seeing
386
:on the prices spent for dogs.
387
:the highest category does
not pay anything for a dog.
388
:$0 is the highest percentage
because they're getting pets from
389
:friends or from family members.
390
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045: Okay.
391
:So let's say that I have, dog breeders
who come and see me at the vet clinic,
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:and so obviously these would not be
licensed commercial dog breeders.
393
:It's gonna be much more of the,
the small, family, dog breeders
394
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yeah.
395
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
be supportive of them.
396
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Mm-hmm.
397
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
idea of being able to share
398
:with them and say, Hey.
399
:I wanna show you USDA guidelines on
dog breeding, and you don't fall into
400
:this category, but I think that there's
some interesting things here and I
401
:just wanna go put it on your radar for
what the larger operations or the more
402
:established dog breeding operations
look like and, and what they do from
403
:an animal welfare fair standpoint.
404
:is there a way for me to do
that as that information that
405
:I can share with breeders?
406
:And again, not
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:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yes.
408
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
them to anything, but it would be nice to
409
:try to show them and say, look, this is.
410
:This is how breeders are evaluated by
USDA and again, maybe it's a way of
411
:me putting things onto their radar.
412
:And I have a lot of breeders
really want to do a good job.
413
:they want to be good stewards
of the breeds that they breed.
414
:They wanna improve the
breeds and the bloodlines.
415
:They want to do a good job and make pets
that are going to be happy family members.
416
:And I think that they'd be very
open to information as long as it's
417
:credible information and they feel
like it's coming from a good place.
418
:so what, does that look like?
419
:how might I show them that?
420
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
So online you can look on the USDA's
421
:website and they have forms available
that are good starting points.
422
:so it meets the requirement
if you complete that form
423
:for USDA licensed breeder.
424
:But it can really be a great.
425
:Discussion point for working with
other breeder clients, and it will
426
:break down different categories
of things to go through with them.
427
:And that can be, that can
serve as a tool and an outline.
428
:another form that they have that I would
highly recommend veterinarians be familiar
429
:with and be discussing what their breeder
clients is, the exercise plans for dogs.
430
:So all USDA licensed dog, breeders need
to have an exercise plan in place so you.
431
:You need to be describing what kind
of exercise are the dogs getting?
432
:How often for how long?
433
:What do you do in event of bad weather?
434
:you need to be thinking about all of those
things because we know that dogs that are
435
:not getting, that their exercise needs met
are gonna be more prone to be behavioral
436
:issues and to have some frustration or.
437
:For us to see problems
later on, with the puppies.
438
:So we wanna make sure that their
exercise needs are being met.
439
:And that's one piece that I feel
like we maybe haven't talked about
440
:so much, in the past, but it really
is a very important component of
441
:a comprehensive breeding program.
442
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
You mentioned the benefits of
443
:empowering pet owners to know what
they're looking for and to look
444
:for warning signs and to pick out,
445
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
I.
446
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
pick out animals that, that have
447
:been well maintained And from coming
from operations that are meeting
448
:the animal welfare centers that
would, that we want to uphold, Tess,
449
:how do you equip them for that?
450
:Are there resources that you really
like for pet owners or, how do you
451
:help them to make that distinction?
452
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yeah, so one of the best resources
453
:is the Canine Care certified program
that was started around, I think
454
:20 13, 20 14, I believe, by Dr.
455
:Candace Croney out of Purdue University.
456
:And Dr.
457
:Croney and her group have a plethora,
just a library of resources about
458
:commercial dog breeding kennels, about
the care and the wellbeing of the dogs.
459
:And so I would recommend that
people go and look at that website.
460
:And it also shows images and examples
of commercial canine kennels so that
461
:you can see what does it look like,
what kind of structures are the dogs
462
:in, what areas do they have to play in.
463
:There's some great.
464
:And some great examples there, and that's
a really good, source of information for
465
:both veterinarians and for their clients.
466
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Let's say it's five years in the future.
467
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Yeah.
468
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
you feel like, the USDA and A
469
:VMA have made wonderful strides
in, commercial dog kennels.
470
:What does that look like to you, Tess?
471
:what would you like to see in the future?
472
:what is a beautiful path
forward for dog kennels?
473
:what does that look like to you?
474
:What would you like to see
that we don't currently do?
475
:tess-house--she-her-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
I would love to see less focus on the
476
:source and more focus on the welfare.
477
:So if I could wave a wand, I would
want the phrase to be adopt or shop.
478
:Health and welfare first, I would love
to see every pet owner looking at the
479
:conditions and the environments that
dogs are being raised in and making
480
:a choice to support areas that are
prioritizing that welfare, whether it's
481
:a shelter or a friend that they get their
dog from, or a breeder or a pet store.
482
:really focusing on that
welfare and health component.
483
:dr--andy-roark-_1_04-02-2026_141045:
Outstanding.
484
:Thank you so much for being here guys.
485
:Thanks for tuning in everybody.
486
:Take care of yourselves, gang.
487
:We'll talk to you later.
488
:And that's what I got guys.
489
:Thanks for being here.
490
:Thanks to Dr.
491
:Tess house for, jumping in and having
this conversation with me and running
492
:through her presentation and through
the work she does at the A VMA.
493
:guys, lots of really good
resources in this episode.
494
:Make sure to check the show
notes, grab links to things, that
495
:you might use, you might need.
496
:the resources for attending veterinarians
I think are particularly interesting.
497
:anyway, take a look and, Okay guys.
498
:Take care of yourselves.
499
:I'll see you later on.
500
:All right, bye.