{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6509.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6509.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6509.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6509.html"}],"law_id":55461,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55461,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6509","catch_line":"Misrepresentation of animal’s condition; penalties","history":"1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.42; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.72; 1998, c. 817; 2008, c. 860; 2019, c. 566.","full_text":"No person shall misrepresent the physical condition of any animal at the animal’s sale, trade, delivery, or other method of transfer. For the purpose of this section, misrepresentation shall include selling, trading, delivering or otherwise transferring an animal to another person with the knowledge that the animal has an infection, communicable disease, parasitic infestation, abnormality or other physical defect that is not made known to the person receiving the animal. The sale of an agricultural animal that has external or internal parasites that are not made known to the person receiving the animal shall not be a violation of this section unless the animal is clinically ill or debilitated due to such parasites at the time of sale, trade, delivery or transfer of the animal. Violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor.\n\t\tAny violation of this section by a pet dealer shall also constitute a prohibited practice under \u00a7 59.1-200 and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (\u00a7 59.1-196 et seq.).","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":203297,"text":"No person shall misrepresent the physical condition of any animal at the animal’s sale, trade, delivery, or other method of transfer. For the purpose of this section, misrepresentation shall include selling, trading, delivering or otherwise transferring an animal to another person with the knowledge that the animal has an infection, communicable disease, parasitic infestation, abnormality or other physical defect that is not made known to the person receiving the animal. The sale of an agricultural animal that has external or internal parasites that are not made known to the person receiving the animal shall not be a violation of this section unless the animal is clinically ill or debilitated due to such parasites at the time of sale, trade, delivery or transfer of the animal. Violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor.\n\t\tAny violation of this section by a pet dealer shall also constitute a prohibited practice under \u00a7 59.1-200 and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (\u00a7 59.1-196 et seq.).","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13341,"edition_id":1,"name":"Transportation and Sale of Animals","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13170,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:40","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:40","permalink":{"id":198661,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13341,"identifier":"3","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3","url":"\/3.2\/V\/65\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13170,"edition_id":1,"name":"Comprehensive Animal Care","identifier":"65","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13169,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","permalink":{"id":198459,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13170,"identifier":"65","token":"3.2\/V\/65","url":"\/3.2\/V\/65\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13169,"edition_id":1,"name":"Domestic Animals","identifier":"V","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12793,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","permalink":{"id":198133,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13169,"identifier":"V","token":"3.2\/V","url":"\/3.2\/V\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12793,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food","identifier":"3.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":193939,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12793,"identifier":"3.2","token":"3.2","url":"\/3.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":54865,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6508","catch_line":"Transporting animals; requirements; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6508\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6508","metadata":false},{"id":73161,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6508.1","catch_line":"Sale of dogs or cats prohibited in certain places","url":"\/3.2-6508.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6508.1","metadata":false},{"id":55461,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6509","catch_line":"Misrepresentation of animal's condition; penalties","url":"\/3.2-6509\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6509","metadata":false},{"id":71599,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6509.1","catch_line":"Disclosure of animal bite history; penalties","url":"\/3.2-6509.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6509.1","metadata":false},{"id":86958,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6510","catch_line":"Sale of unweaned or certain immature animals prohibited, vaccinations required for dogs and cats; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6510\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6510","metadata":false},{"id":69013,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6511","catch_line":"Failure of dealer or pet shop to provide adequate care; penalty; report","url":"\/3.2-6511\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6511","metadata":false},{"id":84119,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6511.1","catch_line":"Pet shops; procurement of dogs; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6511.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6511.1","metadata":false},{"id":72939,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6511.2","catch_line":"Dealers; importation and sale of dogs and cats; penalty","url":"\/3.2-6511.2\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6511.2","metadata":false},{"id":72085,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6512","catch_line":"Sale without pet dealer's animal history certificate violation of Consumer Protection Act; contents of certificate","url":"\/3.2-6512\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6512","metadata":false},{"id":75230,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6513","catch_line":"Inclusion of false or misleading statements in certificate violation of Consumer Protection Act","url":"\/3.2-6513\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6513","metadata":false},{"id":60330,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6513.1","catch_line":"Pet shops; posting of information about dogs","url":"\/3.2-6513.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6513.1","metadata":false},{"id":74582,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6513.2","catch_line":"Rental or lease of dog or cat prohibited; requirements for financing a dog or cat; civil penalty","url":"\/3.2-6513.2\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6513.2","metadata":false},{"id":80528,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6514","catch_line":"Consumer remedies for receipt of diseased animal upon certification by veterinarian","url":"\/3.2-6514\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6514","metadata":false},{"id":54323,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6515","catch_line":"Written notice of consumer remedies required to be supplied by pet dealers","url":"\/3.2-6515\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6515","metadata":false},{"id":77364,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6516","catch_line":"Failure of pet dealer to effect registration after promise; violation of Consumer Protection Act; remedies; veterinary certification; finding of intestinal parasites; illness subsequent to sale","url":"\/3.2-6516\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6516","metadata":false},{"id":84726,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6517","catch_line":"Remedies cumulative","url":"\/3.2-6517\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6517","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73161,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6508.1","catch_line":"Sale of dogs or cats prohibited in certain places","url":"\/3.2-6508.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6508.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":71599,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6509.1","catch_line":"Disclosure of animal bite history; penalties","url":"\/3.2-6509.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6509.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6509\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1984. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 492 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1984 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1987, chapter 488; in 1998, chapter 817<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 566<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":84606,"section_number":"18.2-403.2","catch_line":"Offenses involving animals \u2014 Class 3 misdemeanors","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-403.2\/"},{"id":82977,"section_number":"59.1-200","catch_line":"Prohibited practices","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-200\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":56198,"section_number":"59.1-196","catch_line":"Title","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-196\/"},{"id":82977,"section_number":"59.1-200","catch_line":"Prohibited practices","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-200\/"}],"permalink":{"id":198671,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55461,"identifier":"3.2-6509","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6509","url":"\/3.2-6509\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6509\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6509","dublin_core":{"Title":"Misrepresentation of animal’s condition; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6509","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

No person shall misrepresent the physical condition of any animal<\/span> at the animal<\/span>’s sale, trade, delivery, or other method of transfer. For the purpose of this section, misrepresentation shall include selling, trading, delivering or otherwise transferring an animal<\/span> to another person with the knowledge that the animal<\/span> has an infection, communicable disease, parasitic infestation, abnormality or other physical defect that is not made known to the person receiving the animal<\/span>. The sale of an agricultural animal<\/span> that has external or internal parasites that are not made known to the person receiving the animal<\/span> shall not be a violation of this section unless the animal<\/span> is clinically ill or debilitated due to such parasites at the time of sale, trade, delivery or transfer of the animal<\/span>. Violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor<\/span>.\n\t\tAny violation of this section by a pet dealer<\/span> shall also constitute a prohibited practice under \u00a7 59.1-200<\/a> and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of the Virginia Consumer<\/span> Protection Act (\u00a7 59.1-196<\/a> et seq.).<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMISREPRESENTATION OF ANIMAL’S CONDITION; PENALTIES (\u00a7 3.2-6509)\n\nNo person shall misrepresent the physical condition of any animal at the\nanimal’s sale, trade, delivery, or other method of transfer. For the\npurpose of this section, misrepresentation shall include selling, trading,\ndelivering or otherwise transferring an animal to another person with the\nknowledge that the animal has an infection, communicable disease, parasitic\ninfestation, abnormality or other physical defect that is not made known to the\nperson receiving the animal. The sale of an agricultural animal that has\nexternal or internal parasites that are not made known to the person receiving\nthe animal shall not be a violation of this section unless the animal is\nclinically ill or debilitated due to such parasites at the time of sale, trade,\ndelivery or transfer of the animal. Violation of this section is a Class 3\nmisdemeanor.\n\t\tAny violation of this section by a pet dealer shall also constitute a\nprohibited practice under \u00a7 59.1-200 and shall be subject to the enforcement\nprovisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (\u00a7 59.1-196 et seq.).\n\nHISTORY: 1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.42; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.72; 1998, c. 817;\n2008, c. 860; 2019, c. 566.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}