{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6511.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6511.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6511.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6511.1.html"}],"law_id":84119,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84119,"structure_id":13341,"section_number":"3.2-6511.1","catch_line":"Pet shops; procurement of dogs; penalty","history":"2008, c. 852, \u00a7 3.1-796.71:1; 2015, c. 679; 2017, c. 399; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 339; 2025, c. 610.","full_text":"A\n\nA pet shop shall sell or offer for adoption a dog procured only from a humane society; a private or public animal shelter as those terms are defined in § 3.2-6500; or a person who has not received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pursuant to enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted thereunder, (i) a citation for a direct or critical violation or citations for three or more indirect or noncritical violations for at least two years prior to the procurement of the dog or (ii) two consecutive citations for no access to the facility prior to the procurement of the dog and who has not knowingly obtained the dog directly or indirectly from a person with such citations.B\n\nIt is unlawful for any dealer or commercial dog breeder who is not licensed or exempted from licensure by the U.S. Department of Agriculture pursuant to the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted thereunder to sell any dog to a pet shop.C\n\nA pet shop shall retain records verifying compliance with this section for a minimum of two years after the disposition of any dog.D\n\nNo person shall serve as an owner, director, officer, manager, operator, member of staff, or animal caregiver of a pet shop if such person has been convicted of a violation of § 3.2-6570.E\n\nPrior to selling or giving for adoption any dog, a pet shop shall obtain a signed statement from the purchaser or adopter specifying that such person has never been convicted of a violation of § 3.2-6570.F\n\nA pet shop, upon taking custody of any dog, or any representative of a pet shop upon taking custody of any dog on behalf of the pet shop, shall immediately make a record of the matter in accordance with § 3.2-6513.1.G\n\nAny person violating any provision of subsection A, B, C, or E is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for each dog sold or offered for sale. Any person violating any provision of subsection D is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":301486,"text":"A pet shop shall sell or offer for adoption a dog procured only from a humane society; a private or public animal shelter as those terms are defined in § 3.2-6500; or a person who has not received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pursuant to enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted thereunder, (i) a citation for a direct or critical violation or citations for three or more indirect or noncritical violations for at least two years prior to the procurement of the dog or (ii) two consecutive citations for no access to the facility prior to the procurement of the dog and who has not knowingly obtained the dog directly or indirectly from a person with such citations.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":301487,"text":"It is unlawful for any dealer or commercial dog breeder who is not licensed or exempted from licensure by the U.S. Department of Agriculture pursuant to the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted thereunder to sell any dog to a pet shop.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":301488,"text":"A pet shop shall retain records verifying compliance with this section for a minimum of two years after the disposition of any dog.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":301489,"text":"No person shall serve as an owner, director, officer, manager, operator, member of staff, or animal caregiver of a pet shop if such person has been convicted of a violation of § 3.2-6570.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":301490,"text":"Prior to selling or giving for adoption any dog, a pet shop shall obtain a signed statement from the purchaser or adopter specifying that such person has never been convicted of a violation of § 3.2-6570.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":301491,"text":"A pet shop, upon taking custody of any dog, or any representative of a pet shop upon taking custody of any dog on behalf of the pet shop, shall immediately make a record of the matter in accordance with § 3.2-6513.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":301492,"text":"Any person violating any provision of subsection A, B, C, or E is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for each dog sold or offered for sale. Any person violating any provision of subsection D is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6511.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2008. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 852<\/a> 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. It has been modified 3 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 2015, chapter 679<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 399<\/a>; in 2025, chapter 610<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":86401,"section_number":"3.2-6500","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6500\/"}],"permalink":{"id":198687,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84119,"identifier":"3.2-6511.1","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6511.1","url":"\/3.2-6511.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6511.1\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6511.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Pet shops; procurement of dogs; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6511.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A pet shop<\/span> shall sell or offer for adoption<\/span> a dog procured only from a humane society<\/span>; a private or public animal shelter<\/span> as those terms are defined in § 3.2-6500<\/a>; or a person who has not received from the U.S. Department<\/span> of Agriculture, pursuant to enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted thereunder, (i) a citation<\/span> for a direct or critical violation or citations<\/span> for three or more indirect or noncritical violations for at least two years prior to the procurement of the dog or (ii) two consecutive citations<\/span> for no access to the facility<\/span> prior to the procurement of the dog and who has not knowingly obtained the dog directly or indirectly from a person with such citations<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> It is unlawful for any dealer<\/span> or commercial dog breeder<\/span> who is not licensed or exempted from licensure by the U.S. Department<\/span> of Agriculture pursuant to the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted thereunder to sell any dog to a pet shop<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A pet shop<\/span> shall retain records verifying compliance with this section for a minimum of two years after the disposition<\/span> of any dog. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> No person shall serve as an owner<\/span>, director, officer, manager, operator, member of staff, or animal caregiver of a pet shop<\/span> if such person has been convicted of a violation of § 3.2-6570<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Prior to selling or giving for adoption<\/span> any dog, a pet shop<\/span> shall obtain a signed statement from the purchaser or adopter specifying that such person has never been convicted of a violation of § 3.2-6570<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> A pet shop<\/span>, upon taking custody<\/span> of any dog, or any representative of a pet shop<\/span> upon taking custody<\/span> of any dog on behalf of the pet shop<\/span>, shall immediately make a record of the matter in accordance with § 3.2-6513.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> Any person violating any provision of subsection A, B, C, or E is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span> for each dog sold or offered for sale. Any person violating any provision of subsection D is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPET SHOPS; PROCUREMENT OF DOGS; PENALTY (\u00a7 3.2-6511.1)\n\nA. A pet shop shall sell or offer for adoption a dog procured only from a humane\nsociety; a private or public animal shelter as those terms are defined in §\n3.2-6500; or a person who has not received from the U.S. Department of\nAgriculture, pursuant to enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C.\n§ 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted thereunder, (i) a citation for a\ndirect or critical violation or citations for three or more indirect or\nnoncritical violations for at least two years prior to the procurement of the\ndog or (ii) two consecutive citations for no access to the facility prior to the\nprocurement of the dog and who has not knowingly obtained the dog directly or\nindirectly from a person with such citations.\n\nB. It is unlawful for any dealer or commercial dog breeder who is not licensed\nor exempted from licensure by the U.S. Department of Agriculture pursuant to the\nfederal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted\nthereunder to sell any dog to a pet shop.\n\nC. A pet shop shall retain records verifying compliance with this section for a\nminimum of two years after the disposition of any dog.\n\nD. No person shall serve as an owner, director, officer, manager, operator,\nmember of staff, or animal caregiver of a pet shop if such person has been\nconvicted of a violation of § 3.2-6570.\n\nE. Prior to selling or giving for adoption any dog, a pet shop shall obtain a\nsigned statement from the purchaser or adopter specifying that such person has\nnever been convicted of a violation of § 3.2-6570.\n\nF. A pet shop, upon taking custody of any dog, or any representative of a pet\nshop upon taking custody of any dog on behalf of the pet shop, shall immediately\nmake a record of the matter in accordance with § 3.2-6513.1.\n\nG. Any person violating any provision of subsection A, B, C, or E is guilty of a\nClass 1 misdemeanor for each dog sold or offered for sale. Any person violating\nany provision of subsection D is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: 2008, c. 852, \u00a7 3.1-796.71:1; 2015, c. 679; 2017, c. 399; 2021, Sp.\nSess. I, c. 339; 2025, c. 610.","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}}