APHIS 7081, Pre-License Phone Discussion with Rabbit Breeder/Dealer Applicant

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
ANIMAL CARE

Pre-license Phone Discussion with Rabbit Breeder/Dealer Applicant
INTERNAL USE
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Background and General Facility Questions
 Have you been licensed with USDA-APHIS-Animal
Care before?
 If so, how long ago were you licensed and for what
timeframe?
o Can you tell me what happened to cause
this failure to renew your license?
o Tell me about your past inspection reports
– was anything cited, how were the
problems fixed?
o Were there any minor issues or concerns
that your inspector discussed with you
previously but did not put on the report?
o What measures have you taken to fix those
issues/concerns?
o Do you understand that there are no
“teachable moments” or minor issues for
these pre-license inspections?
 How many rabbits are currently under your control
or at your facility?
 How many of these animals are intact females and
capable of being bred?
 Are these all of the animals and locations you are
using or intending to use for regulated purposes?
 Have you ever pled ‘no contest’ or have you ever
been found to have violated any Federal, State, or
local laws or regulations pertaining to animals?
When?
 Tell me about your facility and how and where your
animals are housed. What types of enclosures do
you utilize?

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Animals Raised/Kept Inside the Home or Animals
Cohabitating with Humans (Reference Animal Welfare

Inspection Guide 4-22)

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Do you keep or raise animals in your home?
Do you have a special room or area in your home
that is set aside specifically for the animals?
If you do – do you understand that this animal area
will need to meet the requirements of indoor
housing including surfaces, ventilation, etc.? (need
to refer to indoor housing facility questions at this
point)
Do you understand that the areas of the home that
are available to the animals must be kept clean and
safe to ensure their well-being? (Safety hazards –
electrical cords, toxic plants, choking hazards, etc.)
Do you understand that all areas housing animals
and items associated with their care will need to be
inspected?

Facilities (not applicable to animals cohabitating with

humans):

APHIS Form 7081
OCT 2018

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How is the facility heated and cooled and how is
the temperature regulated?
Indoor facilities:
o Not required to have supplemental heating.
o Require AC or auxiliary ventilation when
the ambient temperature is over 85
degrees.
o Outdoor facilities:
o Require artificial cooling when temps reach
over 90 degrees (misting system, etc.)
o Require shelter from sunlight, rain, snow
and cold weather.
o Require fencing or to be enclosed to
minimize the entrance of predators.
What is the high temperature in the summer and
the low temperature in the winter inside the facility?
Tell me how you monitor the temperature and
humidity levels?
How is the facility ventilated? Doors, vents,
windows, or some other auxiliary ventilation
system?
How is the facility lighted? Are there windows or
skylights? What is the lighting schedule?
Are interior surfaces including walls, floors, and
ceilings impervious to moisture? What is used to
make surfaces impervious to moisture?
How often do you have maintenance issues that
require repair or replacement? Are these issues
currently fixed?

Enclosures and Sanitation
 What are the size of the cages? (length, width, and
height)
 What materials are the cages made of?
 How often do you repair or replace cages?
 How many animals do you house per cage?
 Do you ever house more than that number?
 How often do you spot clean?
 What cleaning products do you use to clean the
cages?
 How often do you do a complete bedding change
and clean/sanitize the entire enclosure?
 Do you use nest boxes and bedding?
o A suitable nest box with clean nesting
material is required for each female housed
with a litter less than one month in age.
o How often do you clean and sanitize
food/water receptacles?
o What type of water receptacles do you
use?
o For automated watering systems- how
often do you flush/clean the lines? How

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often do you check to ensure each
individual lixit is working?
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Veterinary and Health Issues
Who is your Attending Veterinarian (AV)?
What experience does the AV have with rabbits?
Has your attending veterinarian visited recently?
When?
What is your formal arrangement?
How have you given your AV appropriate authority
to ensure that adequate care is provided to your
animals?
Do you have a current, written Program of
Veterinary Care (PVC) signed by your AV?
Does the written PVC reflect what you actually do
at your facility?
Does the PVC cover routine medications,
vaccinations, routine treatments including routine
dental care, and when needed, euthanasia?
Do you have any expired or unlabeled
medications?
How often do you observe each animal and what
do you do when problems are discovered?
How are problems recorded and communicated to
your AV?
How do you maintain medical records?
How often do you check the teeth of your animals?
What do you do to correct misaligned or overgrown
incisor teeth?
What method of euthanasia do you currently use?
Has this been authorized by you AV and included
in your written PVC?
o For CO2 euthanasia onsite by licensee or
employees- Do you have a CO2
Regulator? Do you have a CO2 flow
meter? Which employees are authorized to
conduct euthanasia? What type of training
do employees receive? How do you
confirm death after animals have been
euthanized with CO2 (pulse, heartbeat,
ocular reflex test)?

Identification and Records
 How do you identify each animal?
 Are you familiar with APHIS Form 7019? (Record
of animals on hand other than Dogs and Cats.)
Form is not required but the information in 2.75 (b)
(1) is.
 Have you documented the animals on hand with
the correct information using this form or a
separate form?
 Do you have all the acquisition information possible
(name, address, USDA license number, driver’s
license number, etc.)?
o If not – can you get at least directions to
the seller’s facility?
o A phone number?
o Some form of official identification?

APHIS Form 7081
OCT 2018

Are you familiar with APHIS Form 7020? (Record
of Acquisition, Disposition, or Transport of Animals
– Other than Dogs and Cats) – Form is not required
but the information in 2.75 (b) (1) is. (Still need to
ask this question but need to make clear this is not
required for the PL.)

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Feeding and Watering
 Describe the current diet being utilized at your
facility.
 Is the diet homemade or commercial?
 Has this diet been discussed/approved by the AV?
 How is food stored? Is animal food separated from
food intended for human consumption? Is animal
food stored to prevent contamination
(chemicals/cleaners/medications/or any other nonfood items)?
 How are extra bags of food and extra bedding
material stored?

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Additional Topics
 How do you manage pest control?
 How is housekeeping maintained?
 What is your routine maintenance plan?
 Who will be caring for the animals, apart from you?
o Have they had training in the care and
husbandry of the animals and are they
familiar with:
 your PVC
 your maintenance plans
 any other procedures you have in place
to ensure compliance
 Are there days and/or times during the week when
you are unavailable for routine inspections?
 Is there someone else who you can authorize to be
available for routine inspections?
 Do you understand the difference between
regulated and unregulated activity?
 Do you understand that you cannot conduct
regulated activity until you have a USDA license?
 Do you have your copy of the Animal Welfare Act
(“the blue book” or the CD)?
 Have you read through the regulations and
standards that apply to your facility and to your
situation?
 Do you understand that you are legally responsible
for complying with all of them?
 Are you aware that once the first pre-license
inspection is conducted, you have 90 days to
complete the inspection process with a maximum
of three inspections?
o It can take a week or two to schedule
second and third inspection so please
allow for that time to schedule inspections.
 When the first pre-license inspection is conducted
(please allow at least 2-4 hours), some educational
components and tools will be presented. Once that
is completed, a physical inspection of the facility
will be conducted.

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Do you understand that 100% compliance is
required to pass and receive a license?
Do you feel that you are ready for an inspection?
Do you have any questions?

APHIS Form 7081
OCT 2018

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