A Northern California congressman wants owners to have a real path to court when a boarding kennel or a groomer harms their dog.
Rep. James Gallagher, a Republican from Yuba City, introduced Dunkin’s Law this week. Named for a dog who died at a boarding facility, it arrives two months after 117 dead dogs were found in mass burial sites at a rescue in Fortuna, Humboldt County. A preliminary exam of 70 of them found gunshots in many.
The bill targets a legal technicality. Companion animals count as property, which caps what an owner can recover. Dunkin’s Law would amend the Animal Welfare Act to recognize dogs, cats and rabbits as sentient beings, and create a federal civil claim for owners whose pets are harmed, neglected or killed at covered businesses such as kennels, daycares, trainers and groomers. Damages could include veterinary costs, emotional distress, attorney fees and court costs.
“Whether it’s a family losing a beloved pet at a boarding facility or the horrifying allegations coming out of Humboldt County, the message is the same,” Gallagher said. “Our pets aren’t just property. They’re family.”
Enforcement of that same law is already in dispute. The USDA is in court arguing it has no duty to enforce the Animal Welfare Act at all.
What this means for your dog
Nothing yet. Introducing a bill is not a law, and this one has to pass Congress. It would apply only to future cases. That property label is why a kennel disaster often ends with a refund and an apology. Until it changes, your protection is paperwork and eyes on the place: the contract in writing, who is on site overnight, what happens if your dog needs a vet at 2 a.m., and a look at the room where your dog will sleep.