citation_inspection

The domestic cats maintained by the licensee still do not have official identification as required by the Animal Welfare Act. The licensee currently identifies the adult domestic cats by name on the APHIS 7005 records but none of the 7 adult cats have official USDA identification. The licensee stated that she has spoken with her attending veterinarian and has plans to microchip all the adult animals. Not having proper identification can cause misidentification of animals on inspections, veterinary care documentation, acquisition and disposition records. In addition, it makes positive identification of medical treatment and sales impossible to track. The Licensee must ensure that an official USDA sequentially numbered tag is placed on the animal with a collar or kept on the door of the animas cage or run, or an approved tattoo or microchip is used to positively identify the animals.

Surfaces and housing facilities for the domestic cats are not being cleaned or sanitized often enough. One outdoor enclosure shelter box still contains old hay that, according to the licensee, was added over the past winter. This hay appears dirty and soiled. That outdoor enclosure also has areas of painted wood supports with dirt covering their surfaces. The room housing the indoor enclosures with queens and their kittens has spilled litter and food on the floor. Hard surfaces in contact with the cats must be spot cleaned daily and sanitized in accordance with 3.11(b)(2). Additionally, other facility surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized when necessary to satisfy generally accepted husbandry standards and practices. Infrequent cleaning and sanitation of housing facilities exposes the animals to unnecessary disease hazards, odors, insects and pests. Correct by removing old, dirty hay from the shelter box, cleaning hard surfaces and housing facilities, and implementing a cleaning and sanitization schedule in accordance with 3.11(b)(2). Correct by: July 12, 2021

The outdoor domestic cat enclosures, housing a total of six adult domestic cats and five kittens, still do not have a litter box or other designated receptacle for litter. Lacking a litter box, the animals in these enclosures urinate and defecate directly onto the soil or mulch. Receptacles containing clean litter are required for cats to engage in species-specific behaviors such as covering their excreta and provide them the ability to avoid their own wastes. Failing to have receptacles for litter prevents appropriate husbandry including removal of feces as often as necessary. The Licensee must ensure that all primary enclosures containing cats have enough receptacles with sufficient clean litter to contain excreta and body waste.

Although sanitation at the facility has greatly improved, there are several areas that still need attention. The Patagonian cavy enclosure has a mild amount of fecal matter present and the shelter box contains old, dirty hay from the winter. There is still debris including old hay and Styrofoam pieces present in the enclosure housing two fennec foxes. Additionally, at least three outdoor metal enclosures have wire walls with large amounts of trapped fur and cob/dustwebs. Infrequent cleaning and sanitation of housing facilities exposes the animals to unnecessary disease hazards, odors, insects and pests. Correct by ensuring that all enclosures are being cleaned on a routine basis and as often as necessary to minimize disease hazards and satisfy acceptable cleanliness standards. This inspection and exit interview were conducted with the facility representative. Additional Inspectors: Rachel Perez-Baum, VETERINARY MEDICAL OFFICEREnd Section