Licensed Breeders

The Licensed Breeder Annual Inventory Form is now available. This form is required to be completed and submitted to TDLR by February 1st of each year. For 2012, please document all dogs and cats that have been held at your facility from September 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. For each year after 2012, you will document all dogs and cats that have been held during the previous calendar year beginning January 1st. This form includes every animal (including puppies and kittens) held at your facility for any purpose, including breeding and boarding. Download the Annual Inventory Form (56 KB PDF)

Attention all applicants for the Licensed Breeders program: the Pre-License Inspection Checklist is now available. Download the Pre-License Inspection Checklist (96 KB PDF)

Pre-license inspections are required for certain dog and/or cat breeder establishments who do not hold a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Class A or B license. Our inspectors use this checklist to ensure your facility is in compliance with state laws prior to obtaining your license. The checklist was developed by a multi-divisional TDLR team based on statutory and rule requirements.

We hope you will find this information useful and helpful in preparing for your on-site inspection. If you need assistance, please contact TDLR at cs.breeders@tdlr.texas.gov or 800-803-9202.

The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation (“Commission”) provides this public notice that, at their regularly scheduled meeting held September 26, 2012, the Commission adopted the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s (“Department”) updated Criminal Conviction Guidelines pursuant to Texas Occupations Code, §53.025(a). These guidelines describe the process by which the Department determines whether a criminal conviction renders an applicant an unsuitable candidate for the license, or whether a conviction warrants revocation or suspension of a license previously granted. The guidelines present the general factors that are considered in all cases and the reasons why particular crimes are considered to relate to each type of license issued by the Department.

House Bill 1451, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session (2011), created a new chapter under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 802 regarding licensed dog or cat breeders.

The updated Criminal Conviction Guidelines includes Licensed Dog or Cat Breeders, and will become a part of the overall guidelines that are already in place for other Department programs. The Department presented the guidelines applicable to licensed dog or cat breeders to the Licensed Breeders Advisory Committee at their meeting of August 21, 2012, and received the Committee’s recommendation of approval.

A copy of the updated Criminal Conviction Guidelines is posted on the Department’s website. You may also contact the Enforcement Division at (512) 539-5600 or by email at enforcement@tdlr.texas.gov to obtain a copy of the updated guidelines.

This agency hereby certifies that this notice has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on October 15, 2012.

William H. Kuntz, Jr.
Executive Director
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

TDLR announces a vacancy on the Licensed Breeders Advisory Committee established by Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 802. The announcement is for the position of a Veterinarian. The purpose of the Licensed Breeders Advisory Committee is to advise the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation and TDLR on matters related to the administration and enforcement of Chapter 802, including licensing fees and standards adopted under Subchapter E. If you are a Veterinarian and are interested in serving on the advisory committee, you can apply online or download an application. Applicants can also request an application by phone (800-803-9202), fax (512-475‑2874) or email (advisory.boards@tdlr.texas.gov). 

The Licensed Breeders Advisory Committee met August 21 in Austin. The agenda is available. The meeting was archived and is available to view via RealPlayer.

Training and Enforcement Account Donations

Here are the public comments on general topics received during the 2012 Strategic Planning process. The comments are grouped as answers to the four questions we based our discussions on.

1. What are we doing well?
2. What can we do better?
3. If you could change one service that we provide or eliminate or amend any provision of TDLR’s statutes or rules, what would it be?
4. What major changes will occur over the next five years that will impact the way you do business and the services we provide?

Read the comments (53 kb PDF) To see the comments for each individual license program, go to that program's section on the web site.

At its meeting held March 27, 2012, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation adopted new rules at 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 91, §§91.1, 91.10, 91.20 - 91.25, 91.27-91.30, 91.50 - 91.60, 91.65, 91.66, 91.71 - 91.78, 91.80, 91.90 - 91.92, 91.100 - 91.113, and 91.200 - 91.202 regarding the Dog or Cat Breeders Program.  The new rules are necessary to implement House Bill 1451, 82nd Legislature, Regulation Session (2011) relating to the licensing and regulation of certain dog and cat breeders.  The effective date of the adoption is May 1, 2012. The adoption will be published in the April 27, 2012, issue of the Texas Register.  The justification for the adoption and the adopted rules are available online.

Press Release, March 30 - Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation Adopts Rules to Implement HB 1451 - Standards in place that have never existed in Texas

Comparison document showing the Committee recommendations and what was adopted by the Commission (3.1MB PDF)

The public comment period regarding the proposed administrative rules at 16 TAC Chapter 91, Dog or Cat Breeders, §§91.1, 91.10, 91.20 - 91.25, 91.27 - 91.30, 91.40, 91.41, 91.50 - 91.62, 91.65, 91.66, 91.71 - 91.78, 91.80, 91.90 - 91.92, 91.100 - 91.113, 91.200 - 91.202 regarding the licensing and regulation of dog and cat breeders has closed.  The public comments received are available in PDF format:

• Public Comments, part one (65 MB)
• part two (80 MB)
• part three (57 MB)
• part four (3 MB)
• part five (10 MB)
• part six (11 MB)
• part seven (595 kb)
• part eight (supplement) (6 MB)

The Licensed Breeders Advisory Committee met on December 7, 2011, to discuss and consider rules for the licensed breeders program. During that meeting several documents were discussed including the initial draft of rules for the program. The main documents discussed during the meeting have been posted below.

• Draft of the Proposed Administrative Rules (now superseded by the currently Proposed Administrative Rules, published January 20)
• Comments on the proposed Administrative Rules from the American Kennel Club (170kb PDF)
• Code of Federal Regulations Disposition Table (18kb PDF)

Request for Proposals (RFP) for development of course material and delivery of inspection training services for the licensed dog and cat breeders program (214 kb PDF) | Addendum 1 | Addendum 2

Please direct questions and comments to cs.breeders@tdlr.texas.gov.