Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 532 - Board of Commercial Pet Breeders
Chapter 15 - Commercial Pet Breeder Operations Guidelines
Subchapter 3 - Minimum Housing and Care Standards
Section 532:15-3-3 - Primary enclosures

Universal Citation: OK Admin Code 532:15-3-3

Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024

(a) Size requirements for dogs.

(1) Commercial pet breeders may house up to six dogs who have been removed from their whelping box in the same primary enclosure, which primary enclosure must provide at least the following amount of square feet of floor space:
(A) For an enclosure containing one dog, the mathematical square of the sum of the length of the dog in inches (measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail) plus 6 inches; divided the product by 144, times 2. Mathematically, the space the commercial pet breeder must provide for the first dog equals 2 × [(length of dog in inches + 6) × (length of dog in inches + 6)/144].

(B) For an enclosure containing two dogs, the mathematical square of the sum of the length of the dog in inches (measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail) plus 6 inches; divided the product by 144, times 3. Mathematically, the space the commercial pet breeder must provide for the first dog equals 3 × [(length of dog in inches + 6) × (length of dog in inches + 6)/144].

(C) For an enclosure containing three dogs, the mathematical square of the sum of the length of the dog in inches (measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail) plus 6 inches; divided the product by 144, times 4. Mathematically, the space the commercial pet breeder must provide for the first dog equals 4 × [(length of dog in inches + 6) × (length of dog in inches + 6)/144].

(D) For an enclosure containing four dogs, the mathematical square of the sum of the length of the dog in inches (measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail) plus 6 inches; divided the product by 144, times 5. Mathematically, the space the commercial pet breeder must provide for the first dog equals 5 × [(length of dog in inches + 6) × (length of dog in inches + 6)/144].

(E) For an enclosure containing five dogs, the mathematical square of the sum of the length of the dog in inches (measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail) plus 6 inches; divided the product by 144, times 6. Mathematically, the space the commercial pet breeder must provide for the first dog equals 6 × [(length of dog in inches + 6) × (length of dog in inches + 6)/144].

(F) For an enclosure containing six dogs, the mathematical square of the sum of the length of the dog in inches (measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail) plus 6 inches; divided the product by 144, times 7. Mathematically, the space the commercial pet breeder must provide for the first dog equals 7 × [(length of dog in inches + 6) × (length of dog in inches + 6)/144].

(2) Commercial pet breeders shall provide each bitch with nursing puppies the amount of floor space calculated under subsection (1)(A) of this section plus sufficient floor space to allow for a whelping box and the litter, based on the bitch's breed and behavioral characteristics, and in accordance with generally accepted husbandry practices, as determined by the attending veterinarian, but at a minimum large enough to allow the mother to stretch out on her side, permitting all the puppies to nurse. If the additional amount of floor space for each nursing puppy is less than 5 percent of the minimum requirement for the bitch, such housing must be approved by the attending veterinarian in the case of a research facility, and, in the case of dealers and exhibitors, such housing must be approved by the attending veterinarian. At such time as the puppies are able to leave the whelping box, the calculations for additional dogs as specified immediately above shall apply. Any whelping box or enclosure shall provide for enough room to allow the bitch to separate from the pups in the box or enclosure. Minimum floor space required by this section shall be calculated excluding floor space taken up of by food pans, water pans, and litter boxes.

(b) Additional space requirements for cats. Commercial pet breeders shall house cats in primary enclosures at least 24 inches high; containing a resting surface or surfaces large enough to hold all the occupants of the primary enclosure at the same time comfortably; and containing at least 3.0 square feet of floor space for each cat weighing up to 8.8 pounds, at least 4.0 square feet of floor space for each cat more than 8.8 pounds. Additionally, commercial pet breeders shall provide each queen with nursing kittens an additional amount of floor space per nursing kitten, based on the queen's breed and behavioral characteristics and in accordance with generally accepted husbandry practices, which per kitten additional floor space shall be in no event less than 5% of the minimum space requirement for the queen. Low resting surfaces that do not allow a cat to comfortable occupy the space under them will not be counted as part of the floor space. Minimum floor space required by this section shall be calculated excluding floor space taken up of by food pans, water pans, and litter boxes.

(c) Flooring requirements. Commercial pet breeders shall only use primary enclosures that have floors that are constructed in a manner that protects the pets' feet and legs from injury, and that, if of mesh or slatted construction, do not allow the pets' feet to pass through or become stuck in any openings in the floor. If the floor of a primary enclosure is composed of a mesh or wire, the mesh or wire must be coated in plastic or rubber to protect pets' feet from injury. Additionally, if the floor of a primary enclosure is composed of coated wire, the commercial pet breeder shall provide temporary or permanent covers or inserts creating a solid surface within the primary enclosure equal to 25% of the minimum size of the enclosure, as calculated under subsection a of this section. In all events commercial pet breeders may only use primary enclosures containing suspended or elevated floors if such floors are strong enough so that the floor does not sag or bend between the structural supports.

(d) Stacking of dog enclosures. Commercial pet breeders may stack primary enclosures containing pets over other primary enclosures containing pets if there is a barrier or drainage system between the upper enclosure and the lower enclosure that prevents all feces and debris from falling from the upper enclosure into the lower enclosure.

Added at 28 Ok Reg 2306, eff 7-25-11

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