Animal Care Facilities

The Animal Care Facilities Act Program (ACFA) became law on August 28, 1992. The purpose of the program is to ensure dogs and cats, specifically those under the care of breeders, pet sitters, intermediate handlers, dealers, exhibitors, hobbyists, boarders, retail pet stores, animal shelters, rescue operations and municipal pounds, receive adequate care, shelter, health care and proper socialization.

The ACFA law, designed to benefit both the animals and the pet industry, requires any animal shelter, pound or dog pound, boarding kennel, commercial kennel, contract kennel, pet shop, exhibition facility, dealer or commercial breeder to be licensed and inspected annually. This committee continues to meet twice a year, and meetings are open to the public. Licensees must comply with regulations that establish standards relating to adequate food water, and shelter (including sanitation and ventilation). Every licensee regulated under the ACFA Law must meet standards of veterinary care, facility construction, handling, and transportation. The licensee must also keep records per shelters, pounds and dog pounds are exempt from paying a license fee, but must be licensed and inspected. Currently, there are 1,943 licensees and registrants statewide.

Rules and regulations governing the program were written and adopted with the help of a 13-member advisory committee made up of people from all walks of the pet industry. Pertaining to acquiring and distribution of animals.

The law also establishes annual license fees, with a $100 minimum and $500 maximum fee. To be fair to both large and small volume breeders and businesses, ACFA’s base license fee is $100, plus a “per animal/per capita” fee. For example, in addition the $100 base fee, a breeder pays .50 per animal sold. This type of fee system is the most equitable way to distribute the financial burden among the licensees as required by the Animal Care and Facilities Licensing and Regulation. The law also requires registration of hobby/show breeders with less than ten intact females. While hobby/show breeders do not require inspection, applications and registrations must be processed and maintained in the record system.

The ACFA Program has eight animal health officers assigned to perform inspections in eight regions of the state. Each licensed facility is inspected once a year. However, if a facility has had serious violations or complaints, it will receive additional inspections as needed.

In the 1999 licensing year, ACFA’s eight officers, some of whom have other division responsibilities, handled 1,430 routine inspections, 87 re-inspections, 203 pre-license inspections and 38 attempted inspections, for a total of 1,758 inspections. Of those inspections, 1,161 were conducted on facilities also licensed and inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The ACFA inspectors also investigated 38 written complaints and conducted several investigations involving unlicensed activities. They travel about 300,000 miles a year to cover the state.

Officers spend time each year meeting with county and city officials to answer questions or help with plans to build or improve facilities. They also meet with civic groups to inform people about the ACFA program.

The department has successfully corrected a number of instances of improper care and treatment since the program went into effect. The ACFA program has played a key role in helping to build the integrity of Missouri’s companion animal care industry and improve the conditions under which animals are raised.