H.R. 3246 — Violet’s Law

This section revises Section 14 of the Animal Welfare Act concerning standards for federal facilities as follows: (1) requires any U.S. department, agency, or instrumentality with laboratory animal facilities to comply with standards promulgated by the USDA Secretary under sections 13(a), (f), (g), and (h) (previously also required compliance for those exhibiting animals); (2) requires any such entity operating as a federal research facility to promulgate, not later than one year after enactment, standards facilitating adoption or non-laboratory placement of any eligible animal (i.e., dog, cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, or rabbit) no longer needed for research and suitable for release (i.e., certified by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of release as free of infectious disease or physical abnormality endangering the animal, other animals, or public health) to an animal rescue organization, animal sanctuary, animal shelter, or individual; and (3) defines animal rescue organization (i.e., 501(c)(3) organization finding adoptive homes for unwanted animals), animal sanctuary (i.e., registered 501(c)(3) providing lifetime care without public contact, breeding, trade, performance, or painful research), and animal shelter (i.e., facility for animal care, adoption, or law enforcement). (As background, Animal Welfare Act standards govern humane handling, care, exercise for dogs and cats, veterinary care, and transport for animals used in research or exhibition.)