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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>69013</law_id><section_number>3.2-6511</section_number><catch_line>Failure of dealer or pet shop to provide adequate care; penalty; report</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-403.2</reference></referred_to_by><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> Any <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> or <span class="dictionary">pet shop</span> that fails to adequately house, feed, water, <span class="dictionary">exercise</span> or <span class="dictionary">care</span> for <span class="dictionary">animals</span> in his or its <span class="dictionary">possession</span> or <span class="dictionary">custody</span> as provided for under this chapter is guilty of a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. Such <span class="dictionary">animals</span> shall be subject to seizure and impoundment, and upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of such person the <span class="dictionary">animals</span> may be sold, euthanized, or disposed of as provided by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="County or city public animal shelters; confinement and disposition of animals; affiliation with foster care providers; penalties; injunctive relief" href="/3.2-6546/">3.2-6546</a> for licensed, tagged, or tattooed <span class="dictionary">animals</span>. Such failure is also grounds for <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> of a permit or certificate of registration after public <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>. Any funds that result from such sale shall be used first to pay the costs of the local <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> for the impoundment and <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of the <span class="dictionary">animals</span>, and any funds remaining shall be paid to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, if known. If the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> is not found, the remaining funds shall be paid into the Literary Fund. <a id="paragraph-249788" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6511/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Each <span class="dictionary">pet shop</span> shall retain records indicating any time a dog or cat in its <span class="dictionary">possession</span> or <span class="dictionary">custody</span> dies or is euthanized. Such records shall be (i) maintained for a period of at least two years and (ii) provided to <span class="dictionary">animal control officers</span> and the <span class="dictionary">Inspector</span>. <a id="paragraph-249789" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6511/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1984, c. 492, &#xA7; 29-213.41; 1987, c. 488, &#xA7; 3.1-796.71; 1993, c. 174; 2008, c. 860; 2022, c. 273.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
