{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-6512.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-6512.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-6512.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-6512.html"}],"law_id":72085,"edition_id":1,"section_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","history":"1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.48; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.78; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 448; 2019, c. 566.","full_text":"It shall be a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (\u00a7 59.1-196 et seq.) for any pet dealer to sell a dog or cat within the Commonwealth stating, promising, or representing that the animal is registered or capable of being registered with any animal pedigree registry organization, without providing the consumer with a pet dealer’s animal history certificate at the time the consumer takes possession of the dog or cat. The pet dealer’s animal history certificate shall be signed by the pet dealer or his agent or employee and shall contain the following information:\n\n1\n\nThe animal’s breed, sex, age, color, and birth date;2\n\nThe name and address of the person from whom the pet dealer purchased the animal;3\n\nThe breeder’s name and address;4\n\nThe name and registration number of the animal’s parents;5\n\nIf the animal has been so examined, the date on which the animal has been examined by a licensed veterinarian, the name and address of such veterinarian, and a brief statement of any findings made; and6\n\nA statement of all vaccinations administered to the animal, including the identity and quantity of the vaccine, and the name and address of the person or licensed veterinarian administering or supervising the vaccinations.\n\t\t\tThe information contained in the pet dealer’s animal history certificate required herein shall be informative only, and the pet dealer shall not be responsible in any manner for the accuracy of such information unless he knows or has reason to know that such information is erroneous.\n\t\t\tA copy of the pet dealer’s animal history certificate signed by the consumer shall be maintained by the pet dealer for a period of two years following the date of sale.\n\t\t\tA pet shop operating in the Commonwealth shall post in a conspicuous place on or near the cage of any dog or cat available for sale the breeder’s name, city, state, and USDA license number. A pet shop or a USDA licensed dealer who advertises any dog or cat for sale in the Commonwealth, including by Internet advertisement, shall provide prior to the time of sale the breeder’s name, city, state, and USDA license number.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":259733,"text":"It shall be a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (\u00a7 59.1-196 et seq.) for any pet dealer to sell a dog or cat within the Commonwealth stating, promising, or representing that the animal is registered or capable of being registered with any animal pedigree registry organization, without providing the consumer with a pet dealer’s animal history certificate at the time the consumer takes possession of the dog or cat. The pet dealer’s animal history certificate shall be signed by the pet dealer or his agent or employee and shall contain the following information:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":259734,"text":"The animal’s breed, sex, age, color, and birth date;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":259735,"text":"The name and address of the person from whom the pet dealer purchased the animal;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":259736,"text":"The breeder’s name and address;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":259737,"text":"The name and registration number of the animal’s parents;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":259738,"text":"If the animal has been so examined, the date on which the animal has been examined by a licensed veterinarian, the name and address of such veterinarian, and a brief statement of any findings made; and","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":259739,"text":"A statement of all vaccinations administered to the animal, including the identity and quantity of the vaccine, and the name and address of the person or licensed veterinarian administering or supervising the vaccinations.\n\t\t\tThe information contained in the pet dealer’s animal history certificate required herein shall be informative only, and the pet dealer shall not be responsible in any manner for the accuracy of such information unless he knows or has reason to know that such information is erroneous.\n\t\t\tA copy of the pet dealer’s animal history certificate signed by the consumer shall be maintained by the pet dealer for a period of two years following the date of sale.\n\t\t\tA pet shop operating in the Commonwealth shall post in a conspicuous place on or near the cage of any dog or cat available for sale the breeder’s name, city, state, and USDA license number. A pet shop or a USDA licensed dealer who advertises any dog or cat for sale in the Commonwealth, including by Internet advertisement, shall provide prior to the time of sale the breeder’s name, city, state, and USDA license number.","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6512\/","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 2008, chapter 860<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 448<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 566<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":75230,"section_number":"3.2-6513","catch_line":"Inclusion of false or misleading statements in certificate violation of Consumer Protection Act","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6513\/"},{"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\/"}],"permalink":{"id":198695,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72085,"identifier":"3.2-6512","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6512","url":"\/3.2-6512\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6512\/","token":"3.2\/V\/65\/3\/3.2-6512","dublin_core":{"Title":"Sale without pet dealer’s animal history certificate violation of Consumer Protection Act; contents of certificate","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6512","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

It shall be a violation of the Virginia Consumer<\/span> Protection Act (\u00a7 59.1-196<\/a> et seq.) for any pet dealer<\/span> to sell a dog or cat within the Commonwealth stating, promising, or representing that the animal<\/span> is registered or capable of being registered with any animal<\/span> pedigree registry organization, without providing the consumer<\/span> with a pet dealer<\/span>’s animal<\/span> history certificate at the time the consumer<\/span> takes possession<\/span> of the dog or cat. The pet dealer<\/span>’s animal<\/span> history certificate shall be signed by the pet dealer<\/span> or his agent or employee and shall contain the following information:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The animal<\/span>’s breed, sex, age, color, and birth date; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The name and address of the person from whom the pet dealer<\/span> purchased the animal<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The breeder’s name and address; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The name and registration number of the animal<\/span>’s parents; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> If the animal<\/span> has been so examined, the date on which the animal<\/span> has been examined by a licensed veterinarian, the name and address of such veterinarian, and a brief<\/span> statement of any findings<\/span> made; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> A statement of all vaccinations administered to the animal<\/span>, including the identity and quantity of the vaccine, and the name and address of the person or licensed veterinarian administering or supervising the vaccinations.\n\t\t\tThe information contained in the pet dealer<\/span>’s animal<\/span> history certificate required herein shall be informative only, and the pet dealer<\/span> shall not be responsible in any manner for the accuracy of such information unless he knows or has reason to know that such information is erroneous.\n\t\t\tA copy of the pet dealer<\/span>’s animal<\/span> history certificate signed by the consumer<\/span> shall be maintained by the pet dealer<\/span> for a period of two years following the date of sale.\n\t\t\tA pet shop<\/span> operating in the Commonwealth shall post in a conspicuous place on or near the cage of any dog or cat available for sale the breeder’s name, city, state, and USDA license number. A pet shop<\/span> or a USDA licensed dealer<\/span> who advertises any dog or cat for sale in the Commonwealth, including by Internet advertisement, shall provide prior to the time of sale the breeder’s name, city, state, and USDA license number. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSALE WITHOUT PET DEALER’S ANIMAL HISTORY CERTIFICATE VIOLATION OF CONSUMER\nPROTECTION ACT; CONTENTS OF CERTIFICATE (\u00a7 3.2-6512)\n\nIt shall be a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (\u00a7 59.1-196 et\nseq.) for any pet dealer to sell a dog or cat within the Commonwealth stating,\npromising, or representing that the animal is registered or capable of being\nregistered with any animal pedigree registry organization, without providing the\nconsumer with a pet dealer’s animal history certificate at the time the\nconsumer takes possession of the dog or cat. The pet dealer’s animal\nhistory certificate shall be signed by the pet dealer or his agent or employee\nand shall contain the following information:\n\n1. The animal’s breed, sex, age, color, and birth date;\n\n2. The name and address of the person from whom the pet dealer purchased the\nanimal;\n\n3. The breeder’s name and address;\n\n4. The name and registration number of the animal’s parents;\n\n5. If the animal has been so examined, the date on which the animal has been\nexamined by a licensed veterinarian, the name and address of such veterinarian,\nand a brief statement of any findings made; and\n\n6. A statement of all vaccinations administered to the animal, including the\nidentity and quantity of the vaccine, and the name and address of the person or\nlicensed veterinarian administering or supervising the vaccinations.\n\t\t\tThe information contained in the pet dealer’s animal history\ncertificate required herein shall be informative only, and the pet dealer shall\nnot be responsible in any manner for the accuracy of such information unless he\nknows or has reason to know that such information is erroneous.\n\t\t\tA copy of the pet dealer’s animal history certificate signed by the\nconsumer shall be maintained by the pet dealer for a period of two years\nfollowing the date of sale.\n\t\t\tA pet shop operating in the Commonwealth shall post in a conspicuous place on\nor near the cage of any dog or cat available for sale the breeder’s name,\ncity, state, and USDA license number. A pet shop or a USDA licensed dealer who\nadvertises any dog or cat for sale in the Commonwealth, including by Internet\nadvertisement, shall provide prior to the time of sale the breeder’s name,\ncity, state, and USDA license number.\n\nHISTORY: 1984, c. 492, \u00a7 29-213.48; 1987, c. 488, \u00a7 3.1-796.78; 2008, c. 860;\n2014, c. 448; 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}}