USDA’s Harmful ‘Teachable Moments’ Policy Ends

For years, animals suffered due to a controversial practice by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in which the agency allowed Animal Welfare Act violations to be omitted from inspection reports on the conditions in roadside zoos, puppy mills, laboratories, and other facilities. Instead, USDA inspectors classified certain violations as “teachable moments” — a policy that left animals in danger. Now, Congress has directed the USDA to end this harmful practice.
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