APHIS 7083, Pre-License Phone Discussion with Dog (or Cat) Breeder/Dealer Applicant

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
ANIMAL CARE
Prelicense Phone Discussion with Dog (or Cat) Breeder/Dealer Applicant
INTERNAL USE
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Background and General Facility Questions
Have you been licensed with USDA-APHIS-Animal
Care before?
If so, how long ago were you licensed and for what
timeframe?
• Can you tell me what happened to cause this
failure to renew your license?
• Tell me about your past inspection reports –
was anything cited, how were the problems
fixed
• Were there any minor issues or concerns that
your inspector discussed with you previously
but did not put on the report?
• What measures have you taken to fix those
issues/concerns?
• Do you understand that there are no
“teachable moments” or “minor issues” for
these prelicense inspections?
What breeds of dogs (or cats) do you have and how
many are currently under your control or at your
facility? How many of these animals are intact females
and capable of being bred?
Are these all of the animals and locations you are
using or intending to use for regulated purposes?
Have you ever pled ‘no contest’ or have you ever
been found to have violated any Federal, State, or
local laws or regulations pertaining to animals?
When?
Tell me about your facility and how and where your
animals are housed.
Animals Raised/Kept Inside the Home or Animals
Cohabitating with Humans (Reference Animal
Welfare Inspection Guide 4-22 “Dogs and Cats in
Residence Inspection”)
Do you keep or raise animals in your home?
Are these animals limited to a specific area of the
home or do they have unlimited access?
Do you have a special room or area in your home that
is set aside specifically for the animals – whelping
room, nighttime sleeping room, etc.?
 If you do – do you understand that this animal
area will need to meet the requirements of
indoor housing including surfaces, ventilation,
etc.? (need to refer to Indoor housing facility
questions at this point)
Tell me about any enclosures you may use for the
animals – (e.g. “vari kennels”, playpens, stack
caging).
Are they large enough to meet the floor space
requirements of a primary enclosure?
Do you understand that the areas of the home that are
available to the animals must be kept clean and safe

APHIS Form 7083
OCT 2018

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to ensure their well-being? (Safety hazards – electrical
cords, toxic plants, choking hazards, etc.)
Do you understand that all areas housing animals and
items associated with their care will need to be
inspected?
Indoor Facilities (not applicable to animals
cohabitating with humans):
How is the facility heated and cooled and how is the
temperature regulated?
What is the high temperature in the summer and the
low temperature in the winter inside the facility?
Tell me how you monitor the temperature and
humidity levels?
How is the facility ventilated? Doors, vents, windows,
or some other auxiliary ventilation system?
How is the facility lighted? Are there windows or
skylights? What is the lighting schedule?
Are interior surfaces including walls, floors, and
ceilings impervious to moisture? What is used to
make surfaces impervious to moisture?
How often are surfaces replaced or repaired? (this
applies to indoor kennels or indoor animal rooms – not
interior of houses where humans and animals
cohabitate)
Which kinds of enclosures are present and what sizes
do you use?
Outdoor Facilities (if applicable):
Have you discussed the following issues with your
attending veterinarian:
• Housing dogs (and cats) outside that are not
acclimated to the temperatures common in your
area; breeds of dogs (and cats) that cannot
tolerate common seasonal temperature variations
in your area; sick, infirm, old, and young dogs
(and cats)?
• Have you received written approval from your
attending veterinarian to do so?
Do your enclosures provide shelter from the heat and
cold?
Is there protection from direct sunlight, rain, wind, and
snow?
Are there wind and rain breaks at the entrance of
shelter structures?
When do you provide clean and dry bedding for the
shelter structures?
What is the bedding and how often is it replaced or
refreshed?
Are surfaces in contact with the dogs (and cats)
impervious to moisture?
What is used to make surfaces impervious to
moisture?

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How often are surfaces replaced or repaired?
Do you use metal barrels, cars, refrigerators or the
like as shelter?
What is the flooring of your enclosures?
How often are those surfaces replaced or repaired?
Sheltered Facilities (if applicable):
How is the facility heated and cooled and how is the
temperature regulated?
What is the high temperature in the summer and the
low temperature in the winter inside the facility?
Tell me how you monitor the temperature and
humidity levels?
How is the facility ventilated? Doors, vents, windows,
or some other auxiliary ventilation system?
How is the inside of the facility lighted? Are there
windows or skylights? What is the lighting schedule?
Do your enclosures provide shelter from the heat and
cold? Is there protection from direct sunlight, rain,
wind, and snow?
Are surfaces in contact with the dogs (and cats)
impervious to moisture? What is used to make
surfaces impervious to moisture? How often are
surfaces replaced or repaired?
Which kinds of enclosures are present and what sizes
do you use?
Veterinary and Health Issues
Who is your AV?
Has your attending veterinarian visited recently?
When?
What is your formal arrangement?
How have you given your AV appropriate authority to
ensure that adequate care is provided to your
animals?
Do you have a current, written program of veterinary
care (PVC) signed by your AV?
Does the written PVC reflect what you actually do at
your facility?
Does the PVC cover routine medications,
vaccinations, routine treatments including routine
dental care, and when needed, euthanasia?
Do you have any expired or unlabeled medications?
How often do you observe each animal and what do
you do when problems are discovered?
How are problems recorded and communicated to
your AV?
How do you maintain medical records?
What is your plan for nail and hair coat maintenance;
eye, ear, and dental care; and flea and tick
prevention?
Explain your exercise program for the dogs.
• How is it scheduled and how is it documented?
• Do you have a play yard or exercise area that is
securely fenced?
• Is it free of debris, weeds, and dangerous
objects?
• Do you have this exercise plan written down?

APHIS Form 7083
OCT 2018

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Has your AV signed off on this plan?

Identification and Records
How are dogs/puppies (and cats/kittens) identified?
Do you have a microchip scanner if you plan on using
microchips? (Still need to ask this question but need
to make clear this is not required for the PL)
Are you familiar with APHIS Form 7005(Record of
Acquisition of Dogs and Cats on Hand)?
Have you recorded the dogs’ (and cats’) ID number,
gender, breed, physical description, date of birth, and
acquisition date on this form?
Do you have all the acquisition information possible
(name, address, USDA license number, driver’s
license number, etc.)?
• If not – can you get at least directions to the
seller’s facility?
• A phone number?
• Some form of official identification?
Are you familiar with APHIS Form 7006(Record of
Disposition of Dogs and Cats)? Examples will be
provided to you at the prelicense inspection. (Still
need to ask this question but need to make clear this
is not required for the PL)
Additional Topics
Use these as guidance:
• How do you manage pest control?
• How is waste fluid drained?
• How is food stored in the kennel?
• How are extra bags of food and extra bedding
material stored?
• How is housekeeping maintained?
• What is your routine maintenance plan?
Who will be caring for the animals, apart from you?
• Have they had training in the care and husbandry
of the animals and are they familiar with:
o  your Program of Veterinary Care
o  your exercise plans
o  your maintenance plans
o  any other procedures you have in place to
ensure compliance
Are there days and/or times during the week when
you are unavailable for routine inspections?
Is there someone else who you can authorize to be
available for routine inspections?
Are you licensed with the State?
• If so, for how long?
• When was your last inspection?
• Were any issues identified?
• If so, have they been corrected?
Do you understand the difference between regulated
and unregulated activity?
Do you understand that you cannot conduct regulated
activity until you have a USDA license?
Do you have your copy of the Animal Welfare Act
(“the blue book” or the CD)?
Have you read through the regulations and standards
that apply to your facility and to your situation?

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Do you understand that you are legally responsible for
complying with all of them?
Are you aware that once the first prelicense inspection
is conducted, you have 90 days to complete the
inspection process with a maximum of three
inspections?
• It can take a week or two to schedule second and
third inspection so please allow for that time to
schedule inspections.
When the first prelicense inspection is conducted
(please allow at least 2-4 hours), some educational
components and tools will be presented. Once that is
completed, a physical inspection of the facility will be
conducted.
Do you understand that 100% compliance is required
to pass and receive a license?
Do you feel that you are ready for an inspection?
Do you have any questions?
Additional Topics for Cat Facilities
Describe your housing for the adult cats – are you
using individual enclosures or colony housing?
What type of queening enclosures and boxes are you
using?
What size enclosures are you using for adults and for
queens and kittens?
What is the height of the enclosures?
What type of litter and litter pans are you using?
Describe the resting surfaces in the enclosures – how
many are in each enclosure and what height are they

APHIS Form 7083
OCT 2018

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