H.R. 10910 – Dunkin’s Law

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Updated October 28, 2026 at 3:22 PM UTC

The bill, nicknamed “Dunkin’s Law,” amends the Animal Welfare Act to extend federal protection to companion animals—specifically dogs, cats, and rabbits—when they are cared for by commercial pet businesses. It creates new definitions for these animals and for the types of facilities that provide boarding, daycare, training, grooming, and other paid services, and it gives owners the ability to sue a facility if their pet is harmed, neglected, or dies while in its care.

Key Provisions

Adds the term “sentient being” to the definition of animals covered by the Act, defining it as domesticated mammals kept as household companions (dogs, cats, rabbits) and excluding livestock, poultry, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and arachnids.
Defines “boarding facility,” “daycare operation,” “training facility,” and “commercial pet facility,” covering businesses that provide paid services such as boarding, daycare, training, grooming, overnight care, or any other paid care for companion animals.
Allows an owner of a sentient being who suffers harm, neglect, or death at a commercial pet facility to file a civil action in federal court and recover economic and non‑economic damages, including veterinary costs, replacement value, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Specifies that entities convicted of illegal euthanasia of a sentient being are treated as commercial pet facilities for purposes of the new liability provision.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

October 26, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 26, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

October 26, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 26, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10910

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 26, 2026

Mr. Gallagher introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To amend the Animal Welfare Act to provide for the protection of companion animals held or cared for at certain facilities, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as Dunkin’s Law.

2.

Protecting Companion Animals Held or Cared for at Commercial Pet Facilities

(a)

In general

Section 2(g) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2132(g)) is amended by inserting sentient being, after rabbit,.

(b)

Other definitions

Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2132) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(p)

(1)

The term sentient being means a domesticated mammal customarily kept as a household companion, including dogs, cats, and rabbits.

(2)

Such term does not include livestock, poultry, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and arachnids.

(q)

The term boarding facility means a commercial establishment that houses companion animals overnight for compensation.

(r)

The term daycare operation means a commercial establishment that supervises companion animals during daytime hours for compensation.

(s)

The term training facility means a commercial establishment that provides behavioral or obedience training services for companion animals for compensation.

(t)

The term commercial pet facility means a facility that provides, with respect to sentient beings, one or more of the following services:

(1)

Boarding.

(2)

Daycare.

(3)

Training.

(4)

Grooming.

(5)

Overnight care.

(6)

Any other commercial service in which a companion animal is held or cared for in exchange for compensation.

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(c)

Enforcement

Section 19 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2149) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(e)

(1)

An owner of a sentient being who suffers harm or neglect or dies while held or cared for by a commercial pet facility may bring an action in the appropriate Federal court and recover the damages suffered, court costs, and reasonable attorneys fees and expenses.

(2)

An entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 28(a)(2) shall be considered a commercial pet facility for purposes of applying paragraph (1) in any case in which such entity is convicted for the euthanization of a sentient being that is conducted in violation of the laws of the State or locality in which such entity is located.

(3)

In this subsection, the term ‘damages suffered’ means the economic and noneconomic damages arising from the harm, neglect, or death of a sentient being, including veterinary expenses, replacement value, the sentient being’s pain and suffering, and the owner’s emotional distress, as determined by the Federal court in which an action under paragraph (1) is brought and in such amounts as may be determined by such court.

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