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ANIMALSO
Breeding

Goldie’s Act (H.R. 349): What the Puppy Mill Enforcement Bill Would Do

Goldie’s Act, H.R. 349 in the 119th Congress, proposes new Animal Welfare Act enforcement requirements. Here’s what the bill would do and its status.

By Animalso Team 3 min read

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Goldie’s Act is a proposed federal bill, not a law currently in force. Introduced as H.R. 349 in the 119th Congress on January 13, 2025, it would amend the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to set inspection, documentation, animal-intervention, information-sharing, and penalty requirements for certain regulated facilities and businesses.

What is Goldie’s Act?

Goldie’s Act is the short title of H.R. 349, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 13, 2025. The bill’s text says, “This Act may be cited as ‘Goldie’s Act.’” It proposes amendments to the federal Animal Welfare Act; it does not itself establish that those amendments have taken effect.

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The campaign website says the bill is named in remembrance of “Golden Retriever #142,” whom it calls Goldie, and describes severe neglect at a commercial breeding operation. That is the campaign’s account of the bill’s inspiration, not a finding contained in the bill text. The bill’s provisions apply to specified AWA-regulated parties, including research facilities, dealers, and exhibitors; the proposal is not limited in its text to puppy mills or dogs.

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What would H.R. 349 do?

Define violations and document them during inspections

The introduced text defines a “violation” broadly as any deficiency, deviation, or other failure to comply with the AWA or its regulations or standards. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to determine whether specified regulated parties have violated or are violating the Act. Inspections and investigations would have to document a detailed description of observed violations.

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Require at least annual inspections and follow-up

The bill would require inspections at least annually for research facilities, dealers, and exhibitors, including relevant premises. It would also require follow-up inspections as necessary until violations are corrected. These are proposed requirements in the introduced bill, not a description of current inspection practice.

Allow intervention for certain animals suffering harm

The proposal would require rules allowing inspectors to confiscate or humanely destroy certain animals found to be suffering physical or psychological harm due to noncompliance. The intervention would be subject to the criteria and process set out in the bill; it is not a blanket authorization to remove or euthanize animals whenever a violation is found.

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Share violation records with local authorities

Within 24 hours of an inspection or investigation, the Secretary would have to provide records documenting violations to state, local, and municipal animal-control or law-enforcement officials with appropriate jurisdiction. The 24-hour deadline is a proposed term of H.R. 349.

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Revise civil penalties

The introduced text proposes a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation. It would treat each violation and each day it continues as separate offenses. The bill also provides for notice and hearing procedures, judicial appeal, factors for assessing whether a penalty is appropriate, and penalty guidelines. These are proposed penalty provisions, not current penalties established by this article as a comparison with existing law.

Is Goldie’s Act law?

No. The official record identifies H.R. 349 as an introduced bill referred to the House Committee on Agriculture; that record does not establish enactment. The introduced bill text is available in the U.S. Government Publishing Office bill PDF, and its legislative information and actions are listed on Congress.gov. Because legislative actions can change, consult the live Congress.gov record for the latest status.

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What is the status of Goldie’s Act?

H.R. 349 was introduced by Representative Nicole Malliotakis and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. The official record lists Raja Krishnamoorthi, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Quigley, Christopher H. Smith, and Zachary Nunn as original cosponsors. The campaign website reported 101 members of Congress supporting the bill as of September 28, 2026; that is a dated campaign-reported figure, not an official current count.

Separately, USDA APHIS announced on February 18, 2026, a coordinated federal effort to address chronic companion-animal welfare violators. That announcement describes agency action under existing law; it does not mean H.R. 349 passed or that its proposed amendments took effect. The distinction matters: an agency enforcement initiative and a proposed bill are separate developments.

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Animal Welfare Actanimal welfare legislationGoldie's ActH.R. 349puppy mills

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