Board of Animal Health details new registration requirements
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The Indiana State Board of Animal Health is reminding operators of animal care facilities, animal rescue operations and retail pet stores that under a new law that took effect July 1, they must register annually with the state agency.
Earlier this year Indiana lawmakers expanded the state’s registration program from voluntary to mandatory, the board noted in a news release. The mandatory registration law applies to any animal control center (public or private), animal shelter, humane society, animal rescue or any other animal-impounding facility intended for the humane treatment of animals.
Registration is free and available online. It is valid for one year and must be renewed annually, and the registration certificate must be posted in a prominent place at the facility visible to the public, the agency said.
Facilities previously enrolled voluntarily must re-register to ensure their information is up to date.
Retail pet stores must register and meet specific requirements for where dogs offered for sale are sourced. Registration is available online, and the certificate also must be posted prominently, the board said.
Beginning July 1, 2025, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health will inspect records of retail pet stores to verify dogs are obtained from approved sources.
Approved sources include the following:
- Indiana-based commercial dog breeders registered with the board. These breeders must be certified by a national science-based breeder standards program and audited by an independent firm that complies with standards of the International Organization for Standardization or licensed with USDA Animal Care with no direct violations for the past two years.
- Any dog breeder or broker, regardless of location, licensed with USDA Animal Care with no direct violations for the past two years.
- Indiana-based commercial dog brokers registered with the board who acquire dogs from a commercial dog breeder meeting the standard outlined above or a dog broker licensed under USDA Animal Care who has had no direct violations for the past two years.
More information about Indiana’s commercial dog breeder-broker program is available online.