Goldie’s Act

Key Points

• This bill changes how the government protects animals at places like commercial dog breeders, zoos, and research labs. It requires the Department of Agriculture to inspect these businesses at least once a year and perform follow-up visits until every safety or health problem is fixed.
• If an inspector finds an animal suffering physically or mentally because of poor care, they must rescue that animal immediately. Once a business is told an animal will be confiscated, they are strictly forbidden from harming or destroying that animal or any others they own without government permission.
• The bill requires the Department of Agriculture to share records of any violations with local police or animal control within 24 hours. This ensures that local law enforcement is aware of potential animal cruelty cases so they can take action under state laws if necessary.
• To discourage neglect, the bill sets fines at up to $10,000 for each violation, and each day the problem continues counts as a new fine. It also prevents the government from significantly lowering these penalties, making sure that businesses face real financial consequences for failing to provide proper care.