Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 21 - Agriculture and Land Stewardship Department
Chapter 67 - Animal Welfare
Rule 21-67.9 - In-home Facilities

a. Food supplies and bedding shall be stored so as to adequately protect them from contamination or infestation by vermin or other factors which would render the food or bedding unclean. Separate storage facilities shall be used to store cleaning and sanitizing equipment and supplies.

b. Adequate lighting shall be provided by natural or artificial means, or both, during sunrise to sunset hours. Animals shall be protected from excessive illumination.

c. The building shall be of adequate structure and maintained in good repair so as to ensure protection of animals from injury.

d. Facilities shall be available to isolate diseased animals to prevent exposure to healthy animals.

e. Outdoor dog runs and exercise areas shall be of sound construction and kept in good repair so as to safely contain the animal(s) therein without injury. Floors shall be concrete, gravel or materials which can be regularly cleaned and kept free of waste accumulation. Grass runs and exercise areas are permissible provided that adequate ground cover is maintained, holes are kept filled and the ground cover is not allowed to become overgrown.

f. Group housing is permitted for animals that are compatible with one another. Adequate space shall be provided to prevent crowding and to allow freedom of movement and comfort to animals of the size which are housed within the facility. Females in estrus shall not be housed with males, except for breeding purposes.

g. Every animal in an in-home facility must have a designated primary enclosure.

h. Litter boxes containing clean litter shall be provided at all times for kittens and cats. Litter boxes must be maintained as provided for in paragraph 67.3(2)"j."

i. Means shall be provided to maintain the temperature and ventilation that are comfortable for the species at all times.

j. Animals shall be removed from their primary enclosures at least twice in each 24-hour period and exercised. The amount of exercise should be appropriate for the age, breed and health condition of the animal.

k. Housing facilities shall be cleaned as set out in subrule 67.4(2) to reduce disease hazards, and an effective program shall be established and maintained for the control of vermin infestation. All surfaces within the in-home facility must be readily cleaned and maintained in good repair.