A new bill in Kansas would amend the Kansas pet animal ac, adding licensing and other requirements for animal rescue networks and pet animal foster homes.
House Bill No 2514, introduced during the Session of 2016 defines “rescue network,” “rescue network manager,” and “pet animal foster home” as:
“Rescue network” means the premises of a rescue network manager and all pet animal foster homes organized under that rescue network manager that provide temporary care for one or more dogs or cats not owned by an animal shelter that maintains a central facility for keeping animals.
“Rescue network manager” means the individual designated by a rescue network to carry out the responsibilities prescribed in section 1, and amendments thereto.
“Pet animal foster home” means the registered premises of an individual who has written and signed an agreement to provide temporary care for one or more dogs or cats owned by an animal shelter or a rescue network that is licensed by the state.
The law would permit rescues and animal shelters to house animals in foster homes, but requires compliance with the Kansas pet animal act at those homes, and also requires record keeping, and an annual fee “of not more than $10 to the department of agriculture for each subordinate pet animal foster home.”
The following provisions would govern rescue networks and require supervision and oversight needed in these often overlooked and under-regulated facilities:
New Section 1 (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a rescue network unless a rescue network manager license has been obtained from the commissioner. Applications for each such license shall be made in writing on a form provided by the commissioner. The license period shall be for the license year ending June 30 following the issuance date.
(b) Rescue networks may utilize pet animal foster homes. Each rescue network shall be responsible for ensuring that pet animal foster homes subordinate to such rescue network comply with the Kansas pet animal act and all relevant rules and regulations. Rescue networks shall keep records of all pet animal foster homes that house animals and shall pay annually a fee of not more than $10 to the department of agriculture for each subordinate pet animal foster home.
(c) Each rescue network shall designate a manager who shall carry out the following duties:
(1) Approve the membership of each pet animal foster home in the rescue network;
(2) supervise intake of dogs and cats into the rescue network;
(3) monitor and ensure compliance of each subordinate pet animal foster home with all relevant laws and rules and regulations;
(4) maintain on such rescue network manager’s premises records pertaining to the adoption, placement or other disposition of each dog and cat receiving temporary care from the rescue network, membership of the rescue network, and any other records required by law or rules and regulations; and
(5) such other administrative duties as the commissioner may adopt by rules and regulations.
Regulation of offsite facility adoption events would also be required:
New Sec. 2. (a) Once an animal shelter or rescue network manager license has been obtained, the animal shelter or the rescue network manager may host adoption events at a location other than the licensed premises, so long as all applicable rules and regulations are followed at such other locations. Once the date and location of an adoption event has been determined, the animal shelter or rescue network shall provide advance notice to the animal health commissioner or the commissioner’s authorized representative.
Animal offered for adoption (aka “sale”) from animal rescue groups come from unknown and random sources, often with diseases, parasites and congenital or behavioral abnormalities that unknowing adopters must contend with. Increased regulation over the sales of pets from these entities is long overdue.