Violet’s Law
Violet’s Law would amend the Animal Welfare Act to create a pathway for federally funded or operated research facilities to place certain animals that are no longer needed for research into adoption or non-laboratory placements. Within one year of enactment, federal research facilities would have to establish standards to facilitate the adoption or release of eligible animals to rescue organizations, animal sanctuaries, animal shelters, or individuals. The bill defines who qualifies as an eligible animal and sets conditions to ensure released animals are healthy and suitable for placement, including vet verification within ten days of release. It also imposes specific criteria for sanctuaries, aiming to ensure that certain facilities focus on care and lifetime refuge rather than public exhibition or further distressing use. In short, the bill seeks to increase the chances that dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits used in federal research could be adopted out or placed non-laboratorily under regulated standards, rather than remaining in research settings or being kept in limbo.
Key Points
- 1Adoption and non-laboratory placement option: Federal research facilities must establish standards to facilitate the adoption or release of eligible animals to rescue groups, sanctuaries, shelters, or individuals when they are no longer needed for research.
- 2One-year implementation deadline: Agencies operating federal research facilities must promulgate these standards within one year of enacted subsection.
- 3Eligible animals: The bill covers dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits.
- 4Certification of suitability for release: Before release, a veterinarian must issue a certificate within ten days confirming the animal is free of infectious disease or other health issues that could endanger the animal, other animals, or public health.
- 5Definitions and safeguards for placements: The bill provides definitions for animal rescue organizations, animal sanctuaries, and animal shelters, with specific criteria for sanctuaries (501(c)(3) status, lifetime care, no public unescorted visitation, no breeding or commercial trade, no direct public contact, no use in research that causes distress).