Animal Welfare: USDA's Oversight of Dealers of Random Source Dogs and Cats Would Benefit from Additional Management Information and Analysis

GAO reported in September 2010 that, among other things, USDA (APHIS) data related to Class B dealers of random source dogs and cats was incomplete. To improve APHIS's oversight of these dealers, GAO recommended that APHIS improve the use of the traceback information it collects for these dealers. USDA (APHIS) agreed with GAO's recommendation and, in May 2011, took actions based upon our work to improve its oversight of these dealers, including (1) consolidating traceback information on Class B dealers of random source dogs and cats for both APHIS regions and (2) increasing supervisory oversight related to the traceback data by having an APHIS program manager enter and be responsible for tracking the data. APHIS officials explained that having the program manager enter and track the data was important because previously APHIS administrative staff had performed this task and these staff did not have program knowledge related to the area or the supervisory authority to follow-up with inspectors. In addition, in July 2014, APHIS indicated that traceback information is kept in an EXCEL spreadsheet log on a designated drive that allows its animal care specialists who inspect dealer facilities to access these data on-line. APHIS also indicated that the number of Class B dealers of random source dogs and cats has dropped to just four nationwide, all in APHIS's Eastern Region; at the time of our original work, there were nine such dealers, including one in the Western Region. According to APHIS officials, this smaller number of dealers makes it easier for the agency to manage and use the traceback information it collects.