By Josh Israel for the Virginia Independent.
Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Virginia News Connection reporting for the Virginia Independent-Public News Service Collaboration
Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner and several colleagues reintroduced the Puppy Protection Act, a bill to ensure humane treatment of dogs by breeders, on April 29.
The Senate bill is sponsored by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois and co-sponsored by Warner and 14 other members of the Democratic caucus. It would require that breeders’ dog enclosures have sufficient space, guarantee outdoor exercise access for the dogs, ensure dogs receive socialization time with humans and other dogs, and set limits on number and frequency of litters for each breeding dog.
“For many of us, dogs are a part of our families. They should be raised in safe and humane conditions throughout their lives,” Warner said in a statement. “As an animal lover, I’m proud to support this legislation that helps ensure breeding facilities are treating their puppies with respect and care.”
The proposal is backed by Humane World for Animals and the National Humane Society. The latter group says the measure “is an important step in the fight against animal cruelty and neglect, and it helps to ensure that puppies and dogs are treated with the respect and care they deserve.”
In his press release, Warner noted his 100% rating on the Humane Society of the United States 2025 legislative scorecard, his successful efforts in 2022 to rescue hundreds of dogs in distress at a Cumberland breeding facility, and his work ensuring health safeguards for bomb-sniffing dogs sent abroad by the State Department.
Similar legislation has been introduced in previous years, but has not made it out of committee.
The House of Representatives version of the bill was introduced in March 2025 by Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and has 204 bipartisan co-sponsors, but has not received a subcommittee vote.
The bill’s chances are dubious this year in the waning months of a Congress that has sent fewer than 100 bills to the president since the start of 2025.
Josh Israel wrote this article for the Virginia Independent.
Source: Public News Service
