Instructions
Ask the owner of the animals if she has a USDA license. While you might want to do further research to verify inspection results, seeing the license can provide a good starting point.
Search the APHIS database (see Resources). Users can search by business name and certificate number, business address or inspection information.
Contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and request a search on the business. Under the Freedom of Information Act, records of the last three inspections must be stored and accessible to the public. Requests can be made by mail, telephone, email or via the FOIA website (see Resources). You will need to provide the business' USDA license number, which is available through the APHIS database.
How to Find If a Person Has a USDA License
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture, is responsible for setting and maintaining standards of animal care in the U.S. They inspect businesses that breed or exhibit animals and issue licenses to people who maintain their animals according to USDA standards. If you are interested in purchasing an animal, it can be helpful to know that the breeder is USDA certified.