In response to the issues raised in this scenario, the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Care (USDA, APHIS, AC) offers the following clarification and guidance:

This scenario raises numerous questions, but we will focus on the aspects that involve the USDA. The citations on the inspection report may be legitimate if there is a legal relationship between Great Eastern and Happy Trails, and there is activity covered by the Animal Welfare Act occurring at the wildlife rehabilitation organization. If Great Eastern believes the citations are in error, however, then USDA would encourage the university to discuss this situation and the findings documented in the inspection report with the inspector at the time of the exit interview. If the disagreement is not resolved by that discussion, Great Eastern may then decide to make a formal appeal of the citations.

There is a 21-day holding period after the inspector issues a report during which the facility may appeal any citation1. The appeal process allows both Great Eastern and the USDA inspector to make their cases, and a USDA official will decide whether noncompliance exists. An appeal also delays public release of the inspection report until the concerns are resolved, at which time both the initial report and any subsequent amended report is released. Both reports are considered official government documents and must be made publicly available.

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