CT HB05575

Municipal and regional dog pounds must maintain indoor temperatures between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit with mechanical heating and cooling systems, unless a Connecticut licensed veterinarian requires different temperatures for medical reasons (effective October 1, 2023).

Dogs cannot share primary enclosures except dams or foster dams with their puppies; cats must have individual enclosures meeting federal space requirements (9 CFR 3.6(a) and 3.6(b)).

Females in heat cannot be housed with males; animals exhibiting vicious or aggressive behavior must be kept separately; puppies or kittens four months old or younger cannot be housed with adult animals except their dams or foster dams.

Animals with suspected or confirmed contagious diseases must be isolated with no nose-to-nose contact with healthy animals and must be examined, treated, and handled according to a Connecticut licensed veterinarian's directions.

The Commissioner of Agriculture may inspect dog pounds and facilities, issue corrective orders, and request the Attorney General to enforce compliance through legal action; inspection reports must be provided to municipal animal control officers within five days and to city or town officials within thirty days.