Arizona Administrative Code
Title 12 - NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 4 - GAME AND FISH COMMISSION
Article 4 - LIVE WILDLIFE
Section R12-4-428 - Captivity Standards

Universal Citation: AZ Admin Code R 12-4-428

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024

A. For the purposes of this Section, "animal" means any wildlife possessed under a special license, unless otherwise indicated.

B. A person possessing wildlife under a special license authorized under this Article shall comply with the minimum standards for the humane treatment of animals established under this Section.

C. A person possessing wildlife under an authority granted under this Article shall ensure all facilities meet the following minimum standards:

1. The facility shall be:
a. Constructed of material of sufficient strength to resist any force the animal may be capable of exerting against it.

b. Constructed in a manner designed to reasonably prevent the animal's escape or the entry of unauthorized persons, wildlife, or domestic animals.

c. Constructed and maintained in good condition to protect animals from injury, disease, or death and to enable the humane practices established under this Section.

2. If electricity is required to comply with related requirements established under this Section, each facility shall be equipped with safe, reliable and adequate electric power.
a. All electric wiring shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with all applicable governmental building codes.

b. Electrical construction and maintenance shall be sufficient to ensure that no animal has direct contact with any electrical wiring or electrical apparatus, and the animal is fully protected from any possibility of injury, shock, or electrocution.

3. Each animal shall be supplied with sufficient potable water to meet its needs.
a. All water receptacles shall be kept in clean and sanitary condition.

b. Water shall be readily available and monitored at least once daily or more often when the needs of the animal or environmental conditions dictate.

c. If potable water is not accessible to the animal at all times, it shall be provided as often as necessary for the health and comfort of the animal.

4. Food shall be suitable, wholesome, palatable, free from contamination, and of sufficient appeal, quantity, and nutritive value to maintain the good health of each animal held in the facility.
a. Each animal's diet shall be prepared based upon the nutritional needs and preferences of the animal with consideration for the animal's age, species, condition, size, and all veterinary directions or recommendations in regard to diet.

b. Each animal shall be fed as often as its needs dictate, taking into consideration behavioral adaptations, veterinary treatment or recommendations, normal fasts, or other professionally accepted humane practices.

c. The amount of available food for each animal shall be monitored at least once daily, except for those periods of time when species specific fasting protocols dictate that the animal should not consume any food during the entire day.

d. Food and food receptacles, when used, shall be sufficient in quantity and accessible to all animals in the facility and shall be placed to minimize potential contamination and conflict between animals using the receptacles.

e. Food receptacles shall be kept clean and sanitary at all times.

f. Any self-feeding food receptacles shall function properly and the food they provide shall be monitored at least once daily and shall not be subject to deterioration, contamination, molding, caking, or any other process that would render the food unsafe or unpalatable for the animal.

g. An appropriate means of refrigeration shall be provided for supplies of perishable animal foods.

5. The facility shall be kept sanitary and regularly cleaned as the nature of the animal requires:
a. Adequate provision shall be made for the removal and disposal of animal waste, food waste, unusable bedding materials, trash, debris and dead animals not intended for food.

b. The facility shall be maintained to minimize the potential of parasite, pest, and vermin infestation, disease, and unseemly odors.

c. Excreta shall be removed from the primary enclosure facility as often as necessary to prevent contamination, minimize hazard of disease, and reduce unseemly odors.

d. The sanitary condition of the facility shall be monitored at least once daily.

e. When the facility is cleaned by hosing, flushing, or the introduction of any chemical substances, adequate measures shall be taken to ensure the animal has no direct contact with any chemical substance and is not directly sprayed with water, steam, or chemical substances or otherwise wetted involuntarily.

6. A sanitary and humane method shall be provided to rapidly eliminate excess water from the facility. If drains are utilized, they shall be:
a. Properly constructed.

b. Kept in good condition to avoid foul odors or parasite, pest, or vermin infestation.

c. Installed in a manner that prevents the backup or accumulation of debris or sewage.

7. No animal shall be exposed to any human activity or environment that may have an inhumane or harmful effect upon the animal or that is inconsistent with the purpose of the special license.

8. Facilities shall not be constructed or maintained in proximity to any physical condition which may pose any health threat or unnecessary stress to the animal.

9. Persons caring for the animals shall conduct themselves in a manner that prevents the spread of disease, minimizes stress, and does not threaten the health of the animal.

10. All animals housed in the same facility or within the same enclosed area shall be compatible and shall not pose a substantial threat to the health, life or well-being of any other animal in the same facility or enclosure, whether or not the other animals are held under a special license. This subsection shall not apply to live animals utilized as food items in the enclosures.

11. Facilities for the enclosure of animals shall be constructed and maintained to provide sufficient space to allow each animal adequate freedom of movement to make normal postural and social adjustments.
a. The facility area shall be large enough and constructed in a manner to allow the animal proper and adequate exercise as is characteristic to each animal's natural behavior and physical needs.

b. Facilities for digging or burrowing animals shall have secure safe floors below materials supplied for digging or burrowing activity.

c. Animals that naturally climb or perch shall be provided with safe and adequate climbing or perching apparatus.

d. Animals that naturally live in an aquatic environment shall be supplied with sufficient access to safe water so as to meet their aquatic behavioral needs.

e. The facility and holding environment shall be structured to reasonably promote the physical and psychological well-being of any animal held in the facility.

12. A special license holder shall ensure that a sufficient number of properly trained personnel are utilized to meet all the humane husbandry practices established under this Section. The license holder shall be responsible for the actions of all animal care personnel and all other persons that come in contact with the animals.

13. The special license holder shall designate a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state as the primary treating veterinarian for each species of animal to be held.
a. The license holder shall ensure that all animals in their care receive proper, adequate, and humane veterinary care as the needs of each animal dictate.

b. Each animal held for more than one year shall be inspected by the attending veterinarian at least once every year. The inspection report shall demonstrate the veterinarian inspected the health of the animal and the condition of its enclosure.

c. Every animal shall promptly receive licensed veterinary care whenever it appears that the animal is injured, sick, wounded, diseased, infected by parasites, or behaving in a substantially abnormal manner, including but not limited to exhibiting loss of appetite, abnormal weight loss or lethargy.

d. All medications, treatments and other directions prescribed by the attending veterinarian shall be properly administered by the license holder, authorized agent, or volunteer. A license holder, authorized agent, or volunteer shall not administer prescription medicine, unless under the direction of a veterinarian.

14. Any animal that is suspected of or diagnosed as harboring any infectious or transmissible disease, whether or not the animal is held under a special license, shall be isolated immediately upon suspicion or diagnosis.
a. The isolated animal shall continue to be kept in a humane manner as required under this Section.

b. When there is an animal with an infectious or transmissible disease in any animal facility, whether or not the animal is held under a special license, the facility shall be sanitized so as to reasonably eliminate the chance of other animals being exposed to infection. Sanitation procedures may include, but are not limited to:
i. Washing facilities or animal-related materials with appropriate disinfectants, soaps or detergents;

ii. Appropriate application of hot water or steam under pressure; and

iii. Replacement of gravel, dirt, sand, water, or food.

vi. All residue of chemical agents utilized in the sanitation process shall be reasonably eliminated from the facility before any animal is returned to the facility.

c. Parasites, pests, and vermin shall be controlled and eliminated so as to ensure the continued health and well-being of all animals.

D. In addition the standards established under subsection (C), a person shall ensure all indoor facilities meet the following minimum standards:

1. Heating and cooling equipment shall be sufficient to regulate the temperature of the facility to the optimal temperature zone of the species being held to provide a healthy, comfortable, and humane living environment.

2. Indoor facilities shall be adequately ventilated with fresh air to provide for the healthy, comfortable, and humane keeping of any animal and to minimize drafts, odors, and moisture condensation.

3. Indoor facilities shall have lighting of a quality, distribution, and duration as is appropriate for the biological needs of the animals held and to facilitate the inspection and maintenance of the facility.
a. Artificial lighting, when used, shall be utilized in regular cycles as the animal's needs dictate.

b. Lighting shall be designed to protect the animals from excessive or otherwise harmful aspects of illumination.

E. In addition the standards established under subsection (C), a person shall ensure that all outdoor facilities meet the following minimum standards:

1. Sufficient shade to prevent the overheating or discomfort of any animal shall be provided.

2. Sufficient shelter appropriate to protect animals from normal climatic conditions throughout the year.

3. Each animal shall be acclimated to outdoor climatic conditions before they are housed in any outdoor facility or otherwise exposed to the extremes of climate.

F. A person who handles an animal shall ensure the animal is handled in an expeditious and careful manner to ensure no unnecessary discomfort, behavioral stress, or physical harm to the animal.

1. An animal shall be transported in a secure, expeditious, careful, temperature appropriate, and humane manner. An animal shall not be transported in any manner that poses a substantial threat to the life, health, or behavioral well-being of the animal.

2. An animal placed on public exhibit or educational display shall be handled in a manner that minimizes the risk of harm to members of the public and to the animal, which includes but is not limited to providing and maintaining a sufficient distance or barrier between the animal and the viewing public.

3. Any restraint or equipment used on an animal shall not cause physical harm or unnecessary discomfort.

G. The Department may impose additional requirements on facilities that hold animals to meet the needs of the particular animal and ensure public health and safety.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arizona may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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