Violet’s Law

Key Points

• This bill requires federal research labs to create a plan for what happens to animals when they are no longer needed for testing. Instead of being euthanized, healthy animals would be eligible for adoption or transfer to a sanctuary.
• The policy covers specific animals including dogs, cats, monkeys, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits. To be eligible, a veterinarian must certify that the animal is healthy and does not pose a risk to public health or other animals.
• Federal agencies would have one year to set up these new rules. They would be allowed to give the animals to registered animal shelters, rescue groups, sanctuaries, or even private individuals who want to adopt them.
• This change targets government-run labs that currently do not have a standard process for retiring research animals. It aims to give these animals a chance at a life outside of a laboratory setting once their work is finished.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.