About BreederCheck
Making USDA animal welfare data accessible to everyone
Our Mission
BreederCheck exists for one reason: to help you make an informed decision before buying a pet. Every year, millions of Americans purchase puppies and kittens without knowing whether the breeder has a history of animal welfare violations. We believe that information should be free, accessible, and easy to understand.
How It Works
Three simple steps to verify any breeder
Search a Breeder
Enter a breeder name, city, or state. Our database covers every USDA-licensed facility in the United States — breeders, dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities.
Review Their Report
See the full inspection history, every documented violation with severity ratings, repeat offense flags, and our calculated A+ to F compliance grade.
Make Your Decision
Compare breeders, look for red flags, and choose a facility that treats animals right. Protect yourself, your family, and your future pet.
Where Our Data Comes From
100% public government data — verified and transparent
All inspection data on BreederCheck comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Under the Animal Welfare Act, USDA inspects all commercially licensed animal breeders, dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities.
This data is public domain under federal law (17 U.S.C. § 105) and the OPEN Government Data Act. Every inspection report, violation record, and enforcement action is a matter of public record. We simply make it easier to find and understand.
We update our database regularly from the latest USDA APHIS public releases. However, there may be a delay between when an inspection occurs and when it appears here. For the most current data, you can also check the official USDA Animal Care Public Search Tool.
Our Grading System
How we calculate facility grades from A+ to F
| Grade | Score Range | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 95 — 100 | Excellent. No violations or only minor, non-recent issues. |
| A | 90 — 94 | Very good. Minimal violations, all non-critical. |
| B+ | 85 — 89 | Good. Some non-critical violations on record. |
| B | 80 — 84 | Above average. Several violations but no critical issues. |
| C+ | 75 — 79 | Fair. Multiple violations including possible direct issues. |
| C | 70 — 74 | Below average. Significant compliance concerns. |
| D | 60 — 69 | Poor. Serious violations. Exercise extra caution. |
| F | Below 60 | Failing. Extensive violations including critical and/or repeated offenses. |
How we calculate scores: Every facility starts at 100 points. Critical violations deduct 30 points each, Direct violations deduct 15 points, and Non-Critical violations deduct 5 points. Repeat offenses carry an additional 10-point penalty. Facilities with no violations in 3+ years receive a bonus.
Important note: Our grades are based solely on USDA inspection data and should be used as one factor among many when evaluating a breeder. We always recommend visiting a breeder in person before making a purchase.
Ready to Check a Breeder?
Search any facility and see their full USDA inspection history for free.
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