PET SHOP INSPECTION FREQUENCY IS ON A RISK-BASED APPROACH

The Michigan Department of Agriculture, Animal Industry Division has developed a set of guidelines to determine the frequency of inspections at licensed pet shops, animal control shelters, and animal protection shelters.

These guidelines are based on the risk of animal health or welfare problems developing within a facility. The inspections will be conducted at frequencies determined appropriate by the inspector and the program manager. High risk facilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• New facilities or facilities re-licensed under new management.
• Facilities housing or selling exotic animals.
• Facilities with a history of problems or noncompliance.
• Large, crowded, high traffic, or high volume facilities.

New facilities or facilities re-licensed under new management will have an inspection frequency goal of one, three, and six months post-licensure.

Noncompliant facilities may be managed either through compliance assistance and education, through administrative action, or through referral to the local prosecuting attorney. Facilities failing to comply in the following areas may be managed through administrative action or prosecution due to the potential risks associated with noncompliance:

• Facilities with repetitive or serious sanitation problems.
• Overcrowded facilities.
• Facilities failing to employ a sufficient work force for the needs of the animals.
• Facilities failing to provide appropriate health certification.
• Facilities failing to provide adequate husbandry and/or veterinary care.
• Unlicensed facilities.

High risk facilities will assume responsibility for improvement or face regulatory consequences. Initially, corrections will be requested through warning letters. Further regulatory action in the form of hearings pursuant to license revocation will be taken should such action be necessary. In situations where animal health and welfare are imminently threatened, the most expeditious route of securing animal well-being will be utilized.

Facilities that are not high risk need inspection at fewer intervals, with the goal of one visit per year averaged over all non-high risk facilities. Licensed facilities will be kept informed of animal health and regulatory issues by means of this newsletter.

By using this risk-based approach to determine the frequency of inspections, the MDA, AID inspectors will be able to focus their efforts where the greatest need exists.