Pet Protection Acts: Comparing EU and US Approaches

The episode discusses the EU's new EU-wide cat and dog welfare and traceability law passed by the European Parliament in April 2026 and adopted in May, covering close inbreeding bans, restrictions on cosmetic procedures (ear cropping, tail docking, declawing), breeding frequency, confinement standards, and mandatory microchipping and registration across 27 countries, partly to curb smuggling. The hosts compare this to the U.S. Animal Welfare Act (1966), describing permissive standards (wire floors, stacked cages, minimal space requirements, frequent breeding) and major enforcement gaps in USDA-licensed facilities despite numerous violations. They review proposed U.S. bills (Goldie's Act, Puppy Protection Act and others) and the AKC's opposition, arguing lobbying and U.S. legislative structure — not disputed science — are key barriers to stronger welfare rules, and encourage contacting elected representatives. 00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup 00:11 EU Welfare Law Overview 00:43 EU vs US Legal Framework 01:24 Inbreeding Ban Debate 02:11 Cosmetic Surgery Limits 02:26 US Bills in Progress 03:34 GOLDIE Act Explained 04:52 AKC Pushback and Enforcement Gap 06:47 USDA Standards and Livestock Parallels 09:05 Prop 12 and Farm Housing 11:02 Space Biosecurity Tradeoffs 14:53 Back to Puppy Protection Act 16:25 Cosmetic Procedures and Vet Ethics 18:07 Breeding Risks and Epilepsy Story 22:14 Clinic Reality of Inbreeding 23:54 MDR1 and Breeders 24:26 ADHD Banter 25:45 EU Brachycephalic Reforms 28:17 BOAS and Hidden Costs 29:48 Microchips and Traceability 33:24 Diet Myths and DCM 36:55 US Welfare Law Gaps 40:54 AKC Lobbying Backlash 44:03 Bills and How to Act 47:30 Smuggling and Global Laws 51:11 Wrap Up and Call Reps References EU regulation on the welfare and traceability of cats and dogs: European Parliament press release Adopted text (PDF) EU Treaty, Article 13  Compassion in World Farming Norway High Court ruling (2023), Cavalier King Charles Spaniel / English Bulldog breeding: Official ruling, Norwegian Supreme Court ScienceNorway coverage U.S. Animal Welfare Act (1966): USDA National Agricultural Library summary Full text/regs (PDF) ASPCA analysis of USDA APHIS enforcement data: 2025 USDA Enforcement Report (PDF) APHIS Enforcement Summaries National Pork Producers Council v. Ross: Supreme Court opinion (PDF) 2026 Farm Bill "Save Our Bacon" provision: Brooks Institute summary ASPCA action page Goldie's Act (H.R. 349): Congress.gov Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 2253): Congress.gov Better CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112 / S. 1538):