Purdue University received a $235,999 Cooperative Agreement from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025), effective September 1, 2025 through August 30, 2026. The award funds a pilot study assessing the impact of ground transportation on dog and puppy welfare, with particular focus on environmental conditions and physiological responses during transport from commercial breeding kennels to distribution points. Purdue will collaborate with one or more USDA-licensed distributors to monitor vehicle conditions and collect comprehensive welfare metrics on puppies during both shorter and longer transportation durations.
The research will deliver environmental data from transport vehicles, clinical data including heart rate, body temperature, and activity levels measured before and after transport, blood and fecal analysis results, incentive structures for breeder participation, and peer-reviewed publications documenting findings. This science-based evidence will directly inform APHIS's anticipated ground transport regulatory updates and best-practice recommendations within the next five years, benefiting ground transporters, breeders, and the general public. The study addresses a critical gap in animal welfare policy by providing data-driven justification for updated federal regulations governing animal transport operations.