Animal Care Facilities Act
ACFA Program

An ACFA license is required for any person or organization who breeds dogs or cats or sells their offspring and harbors more than three (3) intact females; boards dogs or cats at a facility not the pet owner’s own home in return for a consideration; operates an animal shelter, rescue, or municipal pound; operates a pet shop where cats and/or dogs are offered for sale to the public; exhibits dogs or cats to the public; transports animals commercially; or acts as a dealer or broker in Missouri.

Pet sitters who board dogs or cats in their own homes, dog trainers who board animals overnight while training them, auctions, farmers markets and swap meets that have dog/cats for sale, and privately owned organizations which are contracted with local governments to act as municipal pounds are included in these definitions and must be licensed.

ACFA licenses and registrations are issued for a one-year period and must be renewed on an annual basis. ACFA licenses and registrations expire January 31 each year. A renewal application should be submitted to the ACFA office prior to January 31 during each year a license or registration is required.

Report an Unlicensed Facility

Operation Bark Alert is an online webform which collects complaints regarding unlicensed or substandard facilities falling under jurisdiction of ACFA. Those complaints determined to be valid for investigation are assigned to ACFA officials. It is important that complaints include specific violations of law, documents and observations which might substantiate those complaints, and contact information for the complainant in order that our staff can conduct an appropriate investigation.

If you know of an unlicensed breeder, rescue, animal shelter, dealer, boarding kennel, transporter, pet shop, or exhibitor in Missouri, you can submit an online submittal via webform or ACFA complaint form by mail.

Complaints (including names and allegations) are public records and are provided under the Missouri Sunshine Law.

For additional information regarding Operation Bark Alert, you can contact us at (573) 751-3076 or email at acfa@mda.mo.gov.

Report a Substandard Facility

Every type of facility licensed under ACFA must meet state standards regarding food, water, veterinary care, building maintenance, socialization and handling of animals. If you know of a facility that does not meet these standards, you can submit an online webform or ACFA complaint form by mail.

It is best if you have firsthand knowledge or observations of the issues when submitting a complaint. You should include corroborating evidence such as photographs or veterinary medical records to support your allegations.

Keep in mind that these reports are not confidential. Your name will be included in our records, all of which are discoverable under the Sunshine Law. For additional information regarding complaints, you can contact us at (573) 751-3076 or email at acfa@mda.mo.gov.

Report Animal Abuse or Neglect

In Missouri, RSMo 578.005 to 578.050 give authority to local law enforcement agencies to investigate and mitigate animal abuse and/or neglect. To report abuse or neglect of animals, call your local sheriff’s office.

Make an Open Records Request

Missouri’s Sunshine Law requires records of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law. All branches, agencies, divisions and programs that are part of Missouri’s government are committed to transparency in government. All ACFA records, such as inspection reports, complaints, and investigative reports can be obtained through this process.

For more information regarding the Missouri Sunshine Law, research Missouri Sunshine Law.

To make an open records request via webform, fill out the online webform.

Missouri Spay & Neuter Grant Program

The Missouri Department of Agriculture administers funds for pet spay and neuter programs generated by donations to the sale of “I’m Pet Friendly: specialty license plates. These grants are distributed to selected organizations for their efforts to help reduce the number of unwanted animals through local and regional sterilization initiatives.

Animal shelters, qualifying non-profits, and government agencies with current or proposed spay/neuter programs are encouraged to apply for these grants. Awards are determined based upon the availability of funds and evaluation of information sent in the proposals. In order to be eligible for awards, entities must be conducting spay/neuter surgeries on cats or dogs in Missouri.

Qualified entities can apply via the I'm Pet Friendly Grant Application Webform or the I’m Pet Friendly Grant Application by mail.

Grant applications are accepted from January 1 through the end of February each year. The number of applications and available funding varies from year to year, so organizations are encouraged to apply whether or not they were awarded grant(s) in the past.

Purchasing I’m Pet Friendly License Plates

“I’m Pet Friendly” license plates cost purchasers $25 per year for the emblem use fee and $15 for the plate fee.

“I’m Pet Friendly” license plates must be requested through the application for specialty and personalized license plates (Form 1716), which must be accompanied by an Emblem Use Authorization Statement (EUAS). The EUAS is issued by the Missouri State Humane Association. Directions for applying for the EUAS and receiving your “I’m Pet Friendly” plates may be found on the Missouri State Humane Association website.

Spay and Neuter Grant Recipients

Recent grant recipients include APA of Missouri, BARC, Operation SPOT, Humane Society of Ray County, Animal Kind Inc., Franklin County Humane Society, No Kill Columbia dba The Spay Neuter Project, Kirksville Protect Our Pets, Watching Over Whiskers, Pet Resource Center of KC, TNR Patrol Inc., and The Center for Animal Rescue and Enrichment. If you are seeking low cost spay/neuter for your pet, we recommend you call any of these groups.

The Blue Ribbon Breeder Program recognizes Missouri's elite kennels and catteries, facilities which take pride in providing healthy, socialized, superior animals to families across the United States and beyond. These breeders voluntarily meet higher standards than other licensed breeders in the state. They demonstrate a commitment to their profession through active participation in continuing education opportunities. Blue Ribbon Breeders are scrutinized for adherence to these heightened standards in annual inspections, and any facility which does not meet these higher standards may be expelled from the program.

In addition to continuing education requirements, Blue Ribbon Breeders must maintain a written biosecurity plan outlining the precautions they take to maintain animal health and safety at their facility. An ACFA veterinarian accompanies on inspection of these facilities. Furthermore, each puppy or kitten sold by the breeder is identified by a microchip.

For more information regarding Blue Ribbon Breeders or for requirements for maintaining Blue Ribbon Breeder certification, contact Dr. Cindy Watson at (573) 645-2956 or via e-mail at cindy.watson@mda.mo.gov.

Canine Care Workshop

The Canine Care Workshop is an annual conference hosted by the ACFA Program and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). This workshop is for breeders of all sizes and offers six hours of continuing education. Speakers from previous years have lectured on breeding practices, parasite control, marketing of animals, business and tax practices, and disease prevention.

The 2024 Canine Care Workshop will be held October 4, 2024. The flyer and link for registration will be made available in August 2024. Both will be posted on this site. Check back for more information.

Pet Associations/Breeders Groups

Several pet associations and breeder groups throughout Missouri provide educational, advocacy, and promotional opportunities. These groups work to promote public opinion of breeders and the pet industry.

Conferences are hosted throughout the year at different locations. Interested parties are encouraged to contact breeder groups in their respective geographic areas.

Animal Control & Investigations

There are opportunities for animal control officials, animal cruelty investigators, and animal shelter and rescue workers to learn more about their respective fields of work. Trainings are offered by the Missouri Animal Control Association and the National Animal Cruelty Investigations School through the University of Missouri’s Law Enforcement Training Institute.

What is canine brucellosis and what causes it?

Canine brucellosis is caused by the bacteria Brucella canis and causes reproductive failure in dogs. Infected dogs may also spread this disease to humans. Canine brucellosis is a reportable disease in Missouri.

How can my dog get canine brucellosis?

In dogs, brucellosis is usually spread through contact with infected birthing tissues and fluids (e.g., placenta, aborted fetuses, fetal fluids, and vaginal discharges) and can also be transmitted by contaminated objects. The bacteria can also be found in the milk, blood, and semen of infected dogs, and entry can occur by ingestion, direct contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth), or breaks in the skin.

How does canine brucellosis affect my dog?

Brucella canis causes reproductive problems (e.g. abortions, stillbirth, or infertility) in dogs. Other signs can include inflammation of lymph nodes, behavioral abnormalities, lethargy, and weight loss. Canine brucellosis may be controlled but is considered to be incurable in dogs, as reinfections or relapses are common. Dogs diagnosed with canine brucellosis often must be euthanized in order to protect the wider population of other dogs and humans which they might come in contact.

How can I protect my animals from canine brucellosis?

Brucella canis can survive for months in the environment under optimum conditions but can be destroyed by heat and some disinfectants. Thoroughly clean and disinfect areas exposed to infected dogs, their urine, blood, milk, or discharges. Keep sick dogs away from other dogs to avoid spreading the disease. Carefully screen for the disease by testing dogs to prevent introduction into your breeding program.

Canine Brucellosis-Monitored Certification

The Missouri Department of Agriculture offers a Canine Brucellosis-monitored certification for breeders. If you are interested in this certification, please see the form below.

Canine Brucellosis-Monitored Form

Canine Brucellosis Quarantine

Quarantine is instituted when a dog receives a positive test which confirms the presence of canine brucellosis. A determination is made as to the extent of exposure of dogs to be quarantined on the premises. Quarantined dogs must meet testing requirements set forth by the state veterinarian prior to release.

1. Do I need a license for ____?

• Breeding? A person who is breeding cats or dogs for sale, or in return for consideration, and who harbors more than three (3) intact females, must be licensed as a commercial breeder before selling cats or dogs.
• Rescuing animals? A person or nonprofit organization that acts as an animal shelter or rescue by collecting, holding, and caring for unwanted animals or offering them for adoption, must be licensed.
• Boarding animals? If animals are being cared for overnight at a place other than the animal owners’ home for any type of consideration, that place must be licensed. Home-based boarding kennels are classified as pet sitters, while those based at a facility are classified as boarding kennels.
• Training animals? Dog or cat training is not regulated in Missouri. However, if animals are being boarded by their trainer overnight, a license is required. Facilities which train or groom and also keep animals overnight are classified as commercial kennels.
• Grooming animals? Dog or cat grooming is not regulated in Missouri. However, if animals are also being boarded by their groomer overnight, a license is required. Facilities which train or groom and also keep animals overnight are classified as commercial kennels.
• Buying and reselling animals, including adult animals? Activity as a dealer, broker, or auction that sells dogs or cats requires an ACFA license.
• Transporting animals? Any person receiving custody of animals through boarding, ownership, or brokering in connection with commerce for consideration would need a license. This excludes persons already licensed under another category and transporting animals in the normal course of conducting their licensed business.
• Transporting animals to rescue? A person who transports animals while acting as a volunteer under the guidance and direction of a licensed rescue or licensed animal shelter does not require their own license. However, an individual who performs the same activity on their own or their own group requires a license for that individual or group.
• To trap and spay or neuter feral cats? People and organizations which trap-neuter-release cats without holding them or rehoming them are excluded from licensure. However, if they rehome those animals or keep them under the care of a non-profit, a license is required.

2. How many dogs or cats can I harbor before I need a license?

• A breeder can harbor up to three (3) intact breeding female dogs and cats before requiring a commercial breeder’s license or a hobby/show registration. The number is 3 intact breeding females in total. For example, two (2) intact breeding female dogs and two (2) breeding female cats would require a license.
• When applied to boarding, dealing or brokering, transporting, operating a pet shop, pound, exhibiting, or rescuing dogs or cats, a license is required before any covered activity begins.

3. Can I hold more than one license?

• Yes. In fact there are instances in which separate licenses are required for different types of covered activity (such as operating a boarding kennel and an animal shelter) or for covered activity conducted at two or more different locations.

4. What is the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act (CCPA)?

• The Canine Cruelty Prevention Act is found in Section 273.345, RSMo. The Act requires large scale dog breeders to provide each dog under their care with adequate food, constant access to potable water, constant and unfettered access to the outdoors, prompt and necessary veterinary care, and enhanced space and exercise requirements.
• The CCPA only applies to large scale breeders who have eleven or more intact female dogs.

5. How much space do my animals need?

• Animal shelters, rescues, pounds, boarding kennels, commercial kennels, and breeders with ten (10) or less intact female dogs must meet the minimum space requirements mandated by formula.
• The minimum space requirement is calculated by taking the length of the dog in inches (measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail) plus six inches (6") times itself and then dividing the product by 144 (to convert to square feet).
• Example: ((24in + 6) x (24in + 6)) ÷ 144 = 6.25 square feet.
• Dogs and puppies over 12 weeks of age must be provided with twice the base amount of space to meet the exercise requirements if housed alone
• If the enclosure meets the floor space requirements for each dog in group housing, then it also meets the floor space requirement for the dogs to exercise.
• Dogs provided with only the minimum space requirement as calculated by formula and not the 2X requirement must be provided with regular and documented opportunities for exercise, with the exercise plan approved by the facility’s attending veterinarian.
• An easy to follow guide for understanding minimum space requirements for these facilities is provided by the USDA.
• Breeders with eleven (11) or more intact females are subject to the CCPA and must meet enhanced space requirements. Dogs that are provided with sufficient CCPA space also meet exercise requirements.
• CCPA space is calculated by taking the base formula above times six (6) if dogs are housed individually. For dogs housed in pairs, base space for each animal is multiplied by three (3) and added as a sum.
• A CCPA Space Spreadsheet captures these calculations on paper.
• All facilities that house cats must provide cats that weigh less than 8.8 lbs. with three (3) square feet of floor space and cats that weigh more than 8.8 lbs. with four (4) square feet of floor space. Cats must also be provided with an elevated resting surface or surfaces that are in the aggregate large enough to hold all cats housed in the enclosure at the same time, comfortably.
• Dogs must have at least six (6) inches of head space in their enclosures and cat enclosures must be at least twenty-four (24) inches in height.

6. What is the difference between hobby/show registered and hobby/show licensed breeders?

• Hobby/show registered breeders are those that have up to ten (10) intact breeding females, and actively show their dogs or cats in a public, competitive event within the past year.
• Hobby/show licensed breeders meet the same qualifications but have more than ten (10) intact breeding females. They must be licensed, inspected, and are subject to the same standards as other large-scale commercial breeders subject to the CCPA.
• Both hobby/show registrant and hobby/show licensed breeders must only sell animals to individuals or to other breeders. They cannot sell to pet stores, brokers, dealers, or auctions.
• Although hobby/show registrants are exempt from routine inspection, an investigation will be conducted in the event a complaint is filed.

7. What are the steps to getting licensed?

• Please see the Licenses and Renewal section listed above for more information.

8. What are the tax requirements to have an ACFA license?

• Please see Tax Compliance section listed above for more information.

9. When do ACFA licenses expire?

• Licenses and registrations expire and become due for renewal on January 31 each year.

10. Can I be reminded about renewal?

• An email reminder will be sent in late December to those facilities with a valid email address on file.

11. What is the cost of a license?

• The cost of the initial application is $125.
• Each subsequent year, there is a $125 renewal fee along with a per capita fee. Per capita worksheet fees are calculated from January 1 to December 31 of the previous calendar year. Total payments are capped at $2,525.

12. What is a Program of Veterinary Care?

• A Program of Veterinary Care (PoVC) is a document completed by licensees and their attending veterinarian which includes protocols for vaccinations, parasite control, exercise plans, nutrition, quarantine procedures, and other veterinary infromation. A PoVC is required for facilities prior to receiving their ACFA license and must be renewed on an annual basis.
• Attending veterinarians are required to have regularly scheduled visits, at minimum once annually, to the facility premises. Attending veterinarians must also hold a valid Missouri license to practice veterinary medicine.

13. Do I need a Program of Veterinary Care?

• All licensees except municipal pounds are required to complete a program of veterinary care. However, boarding facilities in large metropolitan areas where 24-hour emergency veterinary clinics are in operation may be exempted from completing a program of veterinary care. This exemption must be requested in writing and must be approved by the state veterinarian.

14. What form do I use for my Program of Veterinary Care?

• The General PoVC is recommended for all small-scale commercial breeders, and required for all animal shelters, rescues, broker/dealers, pet shops, intermediate handlers and exhibitors.
• The Boarding PoVC is recommended for boarding and commercial kennels.
• The Enhanced PoVC is recommended for commercial breeders who have eleven (11) or more intact female dogs.
• Commercial breeders who harbor eleven (11) or more intact female dogs must also have Hands-on Exam Forms conducted and recorded yearly by a veterinarian.
• The Kennel Medication List is for any commonly used medications not listed on your facility’s PoVC. This list provides guidance by the attending veterinarian for licensees to administer various medications and should also provide instructions for their use.
• Intermediate Handlers will also need to provide a list of emergency veterinary clinics located along their travel routes.

15. I am licensed by the USDA. Can I use that POVC?

• Non-CCPA breeders of dogs (having 10 or less intact female dogs, or having only cats) may use the USDA Form 7002 or 7002-A. A written exercise program for dogs approved by the attending veterinarian should also be available for review.
• CCPA breeders of dogs may use USDA Form 7002-A but must ensure it includes information required by the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.
• Section I-c – regularly scheduled visits to the premises by the attending veterinarian must occur annually.
• Section III – Adult dogs must be examined by a licensed veterinarian annually. The results of these examinations must be recorded on Hands-on Exam Forms.
• Section V – Euthanasia shall be accomplished by a method specified as acceptable by the American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia.
• Section VI – Veterinarian’s recommendations on pest control and nutrition must be recorded.
• An exercise plan must be included.

16. Do I need to be licensed by the USDA?

• For more information, visit the USDA-APHIS website.

17. What are the different types of inspections?

• A prelicense inspection is conducted prior to any license being issued. An initial prelicense inspection (your very first prelicense inspection) will be the only scheduled inspection. You are allowed up to three prelicense inspections while applying for your license.
• A routine inspection is conducted at least once yearly and is the most common type of inspection. Routine inspections are unannounced and may occur from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at other times mutually agreeable.
• A reinspection is conducted whenever there are multiple violations, direct violations, or repeat violations on the previous inspection. Reinspections are unannounced.
• A complaint inspection is conducted if a complaint has been filed against a facility and assigned for investigation. Complaint inspections are unannounced.
• A focused inspection is conducted if there was a direct violation on the previous inspection. A focused inspection may be unannounced but will typically be conducted within 48 hours of the previous inspection.

18. What happens if I fail a prelicense inspection?

• Prelicense inspections must be in total compliance with the requirements of the ACFA for a license to be issued.
• A facility has up to three (3) pre-license inspections, or 90 days, to come into total compliance with the rules and regulations.
• Facilities that fail all three prelicense inspections will have their application for license denied. They may reapply after six months from the date of the latest failed inspection.

19. What are the different types of violations?

• A Category I violation is a non-compliant item that has been corrected and is now in compliance.
• A Category II violation is a non-compliant item that has not been corrected but has not passed its correction date.
• A Category III violation is a new non-compliant item that must be corrected on or before the correction date.
• A Category IV violation is a repeat non-compliant item that has not been corrected. A warning letter is issued for category IV violations.
• A Category V violation is a repeat non-compliant item that has not been corrected during the past two inspections. A reinspection fee is assessed for category V violations. A reinspection fee will be levied each time a category V violation is noted on the inspection report.

20. When do I need a certificate of veterinary inspection for my cat or dog?

• Health Requirements for Movement of Animals require that all cats and dogs entering Missouri be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 30 days.
• Dogs and cats delivered to intermediate handlers or carriers for their transportation in interstate commerce must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 10 days.
• Most states require a certificate of veterinary inspection for cats and dogs entering their state, although each state of destination will have their own entry requirements.
• A certificate of veterinary inspection is not required for dogs and cats moving within the state.