USDA APHIS Animal Welfare Act complaints database

Good Afternoon,
Could you please provide the FOIA case number? The requested information will be helpful in tracking the request.

V/R
David Ajua

Good Morning Sir,
A search of our database was conducted but your request below could not be located. I just need your confirmation on what you requested below before logging it. You will be provided with an acknowledgement and a reference number once your request is confirmed and logged. I am really sorry for the inconvenience.

V/R
David Ajua

“To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

An electronic database export, in spreadsheet format, of all Animal Welfare Act related complaints received by your office. The program is described at the following URL: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/sa_awa/ct_awa_inspections

I request that, at the minimum, the following fields be released:

* Name of the individual or business
* Address of the individual or business or location where you saw the animal or activity
* USDA License or Registration number if known
* Date on which you saw the animal or activity
* Description of what you saw and have concerns about

I do *not* request the release of complainant's name and contact information. That can be withheld.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Ben Welsh”

None

Hello Mr. Welsh,
We have not received the records in our office for your request yet. It is still in the search phase and the Animal Care program has a backlog of nearly 300 searches. They are working through them on a case by case basis and we will process the records when we receive them. I estimate that we would be able to provide a response by the end of July.
Thanks!

Andrea McNally (she/her)
Management and Program Analyst
Legislative and Public Affairs-FOIA
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA
202-799-7026
Andrea.c.mcnally@usda.gov<mailto:Andrea.c.mcnally@usda.gov>

DearBen Welsh, My name isGlendora Gilchrist, and I am a Government Information Specialist with Freedom ofInformation staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and PlantHealth Inspection Service (APHIS). Please note, the above-mentionedFreedom of Information Act (FOIA) request has been reassigned to me. APHISprocesses FOIA requests by date of receipt, on a first-in, first-outbasis. In an effort to identify andobtain the documents of interest to you, our intake staff previously forwardedyour request to the program office(s) believed to have purview over therecords. When that search has concluded,your case will be assigned a track (simple or complex), based on the complexityand/or volume of the documents identified. Any responsive documents that have been found will then be forwarded tome for review and possible release. Iassure you we will work as quickly as possible to provide you with a thoroughresponse to your request. Ifyou have questions about this e-mail or the processing of your request, pleasecontact me directly at glendora.gilchrist@usda.gov or 301-851-4046. Sincerely, Glendora Gilchrist

Hello Mr. Welsh,

As of today, the program office tasked with searching for records responsive to your request [Animal Care (AC)] has not completed the search process. I can tell you that the AC program is currently diligently working through a backlog of FOIA cases. What I can do is contact my colleague that works in AC's office that oversees records searches to see how soon I can expect to receive a response from them. Once I hear something, I will email you an update.

Sincerely,
Glendora Gilchrist

Good Morning Sir,
Kindly provide a date range for your request. For example from January 1, 2023 to February1, 2023.
Please, do contact me if there are any concerns.

V/R
David Ajua

Good Morning,

I have attached the response letter and reviewed records for FOIA 2023-APHIS-03300-F. This is our final response. Thanks!

V/R

[cid:image001.png@01DA60BB.FC565C80]
shane stonesifer | Government Information Specialist
Legislative and public affairs
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - remote worker
SHANE.STONESIFER@usda.gov<mailto:SHANE.STONESIFER@usda.gov>
* 301-851-2544

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