LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Agriculture Department says it’s updated its regulations in an effort to police dog and cat breeders who don’t meet state standards.

The office of state Agriculture Director Greg Ibach (EYE’-bah) says the amendments to the department’s Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act took effect last week.

Ibach says the amended regulations “are designed to allow the department to move more effectively against those substandard dog and cat facilities.”

Among the updates are provisions to clarify violations of standards of dog and cat care and clarify rules on gaining access to make inspections.

The updated regulations can be found at http://tinyurl.com/NDADogAndCat.