APHIS 7086, Pre-License Phone Discussion with Sugar Glider Breeder/Dealer Applicant

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
ANIMAL CARE
Pre-license Phone Discussion with Sugar Glider Breeder/Dealer Applicant
INTERNAL USE




















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 pre-license
inspections?
How many sugar gliders 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. What types of enclosures do you
utilize?
Animals Raised/Kept Inside the Home or Animals
Cohabitating with Humans (Reference Animal
Welfare Inspection Guide 4-22)
Do you keep or raise animals in your home?
Do you have a special room or area in your home that
is set aside specifically for the animals?
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)
Do you allow for free roaming enrichment?
• How long?
• Is the room closed off during this time?
• Do you monitor the gliders during the free roaming
time?
• Are there household pets in the room during this
time? (dogs, cats, etc.)
Do you understand that the areas of the home that are
available to the animals must be kept clean and safe
to ensure their well- being? (Safety hazards –
electrical cords, toxic plants, choking hazards, etc.)

APHIS Form 7086
OCT 2018



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?
Do you use a dehumidifier?
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 do you have maintenance issues that
require repair or replacement? Are these issues
currently fixed?





























Enclosures and Sanitation
What are the size of the cages? (length, width, and
height)
What materials are the cages made of?
How often do you repair or replace cages?
How many gliders do you house per cage?
Do you ever house more than that number?
How often do you spot clean and change the pans
out?
How often do you sanitize the cages?
What cleaning products do you use to clean the
cages?
What kind of enrichment do you use? (toys, exercise
wheels, perching sticks, etc.)
How often do you clean and sanitize the enrichment
toys?
Do you use nesting pouches or boxes?
How often are the pouches washed or boxes
sanitized?
How often do you change the bedding out of the box?
How often do you clean and sanitize food/water
receptacles?
Veterinary and Health Issues
Who is your Attending Veterinarian (AV)?
What experience does your AV have with sugar
gliders?

Page 1 of 2




























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?
How do you handle neutering and other surgical
procedures?
Identification and Records
How do you identify each animal?
Are you familiar with APHIS Form 7019? (Record of
animals on hand other than Dogs and Cats.) Form is
not required but the information in 2.75 (b) (1) is.
Have you recorded the animals on hand with the
correct information on this form or a separate 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 7020? (Record of
Acquisition, Disposition, or Transport of Animals –
Other than Dogs and Cats) – Form is not required but
the information in 2.75 (b) (1) is. (Still need to ask this
question but need to make clear this is not required
for the PL.)
Feeding and Watering
Do you bottle feed babies? How often?
Tell me about the housing for the bottle babies? What
formula do you use?
Is the current diet being utilized at your facility
homemade or commercial?
• Describe the current diet.
• Has this diet been discussed with the AV?
Sugar gliders can have calcium deficiency issues.
What measures are you taking to address this (i.e.,
supplement diet with yogurt, etc.)
How is food stored? Is animal food separated from
food intended for human consumption? Is animal food
stored to prevent contamination

APHIS Form 7086
OCT 2018





















(chemicals/cleaners/medications/or any other nonfood items)?
How are extra bags of food and extra bedding
material stored?
Additional Topics
How do you manage pest control?
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 PVC
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?
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?
Do you understand that you are legally responsible for
complying with all of them?
Are you aware that once the first pre-license
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 pre-license 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

Page 2 of 2