APHIS: Reopening Comment Period for Dog Care Standards

Regs.gov: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Published March 19th, 2026

Detected March 24th, 2026

Summary

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has reopened the comment period for its request for information regarding standards for the care of breeding female dogs and exercise/socialization for dogs subject to the Animal Welfare Act. The new comment deadline is April 20, 2026.

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What changed

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is reopening the comment period for a previously issued request for information concerning appropriate standards for the care of breeding female dogs at dog breeding facilities and the exercise and socialization of dogs covered by the Animal Welfare Act. This action extends the opportunity for public input on these important animal welfare standards.

Regulated entities, particularly dog breeding facilities, should be aware that the comment period is now extended until April 20, 2026. This provides additional time to submit comments on the proposed standards. APHIS will consider all comments received by this new deadline, as well as those submitted between the original deadline and the date of this notice.

What to do next

Submit comments on dog care standards by April 20, 2026

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Request for information; reopening of comment period.

SUMMARY:

We are reopening the comment period for a request for information soliciting comments regarding appropriate standards for
the care of breeding female dogs at dog breeding facilities and exercise and socialization of dogs subject to the Animal Welfare
Act. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES:

The comment period for the request for information published on February 17, 2026 (91 FR 7162-7163) is reopened. We will consider
all comments that we receive on or before April 20, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2025-1000 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, then select the Comment button in the list of documents.

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2025-1000, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., #AP760,
Beltsville, MD 20705.

Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at Regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located in room 1620 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone
is there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Christine Jones, Acting Animal Care Chief of Staff, 2150 Centre Ave. Bldg. B,

     Mailstop 3W11, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 494-7478.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On February 17, 2026, we published in the
Federal Register
a request for information (91 FR 7162-7163, Docket No. APHIS-2025-1000) soliciting comments regarding appropriate standards
for the care of breeding female dogs at dog breeding facilities and exercise and socialization of dogs subject to the Animal
Welfare Act.

Comments on the request for information were initially required to be received on or before March 19, 2026. We are reopening
the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-2025-1000 until April 20, 2026. We will also consider all comments received between
March 20, 2026 (the day after the close of the original comment period) and the date of this notice.

This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

Authority:

7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.7.

Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of March 2026. Kelly Moore, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2026-05684 Filed 3-23-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P