The US Department of Agriculture has scrubbed online information about the treatment of animals at laboratories, zoos, puppy mills and horse breeders — a move that has outraged animal-rights advocates.

The agency said the removal of the inspection reports and other data from its Web site was part of a “comprehensive review” that had been going on for about a year.

The USDA data include enforcement records about people or companies cited for violating the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act.

Animal-welfare groups slammed the agency for taking the info off its Web site, saying it allows animal abuses to go unchecked.