H.R. 3732: Bring Animals Relief and Kibble Act of 2025 (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, known as the Bring Animals Relief and Kibble Act of 2025 (or BARK Act of 2025), aims to offer legal protections to individuals and organizations who donate pet food and supplies in good faith. Here’s a breakdown of its key components:

Liability Protections for Donors

The bill stipulates that:

Individuals: A person will not face civil or criminal liability if they donate pet products that appear to be suitable for consumption, regardless of their age, packaging, or condition, as long as the donation is made in good faith to a government entity or nonprofit organization.
Nonprofits: Similarly, organizations receiving such donations will also be exempt from liability associated with the condition of the products they accept, provided they received them in good faith.
State and Local Governments: Government entities that receive donations will not be liable for the quality or condition of the products donated, again, contingent on good faith donations.

Exceptions

The liability protections mentioned do not apply in cases of:

Gross negligence or intentional misconduct by the donor, nonprofit, or government where injuries or deaths resulting from the donations occur.

Partial Compliance for Quality Standards

If a person donates pet food or supplies that do not fully meet established quality and labeling standards, they will not be held liable if:

The donor informs the receiving organization or government entity about any issues with the products.
The recipient agrees to remedy these issues to meet applicable standards before distributing the products.
The recipient is knowledgeable about the standards necessary for reconditioning the products.

Definitions

The bill includes specific definitions for terms used throughout:

Apparently fit pet-related product: This refers to any pet food or supplies deemed acceptable under existing regulations, despite not being marketable due to various conditions such as age or appearance.
Qualified animal: This encompasses pets, emotional support animals, and service animals.
Pet food: Defined as any substance or ingredient intended for consumption by qualified animals.
Pet supplies: This includes items such as carriers, leashes, and toys intended for use with qualified animals.

Regulatory Considerations

The bill clarifies that it does not create new liabilities or supersede existing state or local health regulations. It aims to facilitate donations of pet food and supplies by providing legal assurances to donors, which may encourage more contributions to address the needs of pets in various communities.