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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84119</law_id><section_number>3.2-6511.1</section_number><catch_line>Pet shops; procurement of dogs; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="V">Domestic Animals</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="65">Comprehensive Animal Care</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Transportation and Sale of Animals</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">pet shop</span> shall sell or offer for <span class="dictionary">adoption</span> a dog procured only from a <span class="dictionary">humane society</span>; a private or <span class="dictionary">public animal shelter</span> as those terms are defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/3.2-6500/">3.2-6500</a>; or a person who has not received from the U.S. <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Agriculture, pursuant to enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. &#xA7; 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted thereunder, (i) a <span class="dictionary">citation</span> for a direct or critical violation or <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">citations</span> for no access to the <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">citations</span>. <a id="paragraph-301486" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6511.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> It is unlawful for any <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> or <span class="dictionary">commercial dog breeder</span> who is not licensed or exempted from licensure by the U.S. <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Agriculture pursuant to the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. &#xA7; 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted thereunder to sell any dog to a <span class="dictionary">pet shop</span>. <a id="paragraph-301487" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6511.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A <span class="dictionary">pet shop</span> shall retain records verifying compliance with this section for a minimum of two years after the <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of any dog. <a id="paragraph-301488" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6511.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> No person shall serve as an <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, director, officer, manager, operator, member of staff, or animal caregiver of a <span class="dictionary">pet shop</span> if such person has been convicted of a violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Cruelty to animals; penalty" href="/3.2-6570/">3.2-6570</a>. <a id="paragraph-301489" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6511.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Prior to selling or giving for <span class="dictionary">adoption</span> any dog, a <span class="dictionary">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 &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Cruelty to animals; penalty" href="/3.2-6570/">3.2-6570</a>. <a id="paragraph-301490" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6511.1/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> A <span class="dictionary">pet shop</span>, upon taking <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of any dog, or any representative of a <span class="dictionary">pet shop</span> upon taking <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of any dog on behalf of the <span class="dictionary">pet shop</span>, shall immediately make a record of the matter in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Pet shops; posting of information about dogs" href="/3.2-6513.1/">3.2-6513.1</a>. <a id="paragraph-301491" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6511.1/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> Any person violating any provision of subsection A, B, C, or E is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> for each dog sold or offered for sale. Any person violating any provision of subsection D is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-301492" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6511.1/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2008, c. 852, &#xA7; 3.1-796.71:1; 2015, c. 679; 2017, c. 399; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 339; 2025, c. 610.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
