which act requires minimum standards of treatment and care for animals?

The act that requires minimum standards of treatment and care for animals is the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Enacted in 1966, the AWA is the primary federal law in the United States that regulates the treatment, care, and treatment of animals used in research, exhibited to the public, transported commercially, or bred for commercial sale. The Act mandates minimum requirements for handling, housing, feeding, watering, sanitation, veterinary care, and protection from weather extremes for certain warm-blooded animals. The law also establishes standards for humane handling, care, and treatment of these animals and is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Excluded from this Act are birds, laboratory rats, and mice bred for research purposes, among other exceptions. The AWA sets a baseline for animal welfare in the covered categories, ensuring animals receive proper care and humane treatment.