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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72085</law_id><section_number>3.2-6512</section_number><catch_line>Sale without pet dealer&amp;#8217;s animal history certificate violation of Consumer Protection Act; contents of certificate</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-6513</reference><reference>59.1-200</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><p>It shall be a violation of the Virginia <span class="dictionary">Consumer</span> Protection Act (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Title" href="/59.1-196/">59.1-196</a> et seq.) for any pet <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> to sell a dog or cat within the Commonwealth stating, promising, or representing that the <span class="dictionary">animal</span> is registered or capable of being registered with any <span class="dictionary">animal</span> pedigree registry organization, without providing the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> with a pet <span class="dictionary">dealer</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">animal</span> history certificate at the time the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> takes <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the dog or cat. The pet <span class="dictionary">dealer</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">animal</span> history certificate shall be signed by the pet <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> or his agent or employee and shall contain the following information:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">animal</span>&#x2019;s breed, sex, age, color, and birth date; <a id="paragraph-259734" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6512/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The name and address of the person from whom the pet <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> purchased the <span class="dictionary">animal</span>; <a id="paragraph-259735" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6512/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The breeder&#x2019;s name and address; <a id="paragraph-259736" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6512/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The name and registration number of the <span class="dictionary">animal</span>&#x2019;s parents; <a id="paragraph-259737" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6512/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">animal</span> has been so examined, the date on which the <span class="dictionary">animal</span> has been examined by a licensed veterinarian, the name and address of such veterinarian, and a <span class="dictionary">brief</span> statement of any <span class="dictionary">findings</span> made; and <a id="paragraph-259738" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6512/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> A statement of all vaccinations administered to the <span class="dictionary">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.
			The information contained in the pet <span class="dictionary">dealer</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">animal</span> history certificate required herein shall be informative only, and the pet <span class="dictionary">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.
			A copy of the pet <span class="dictionary">dealer</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">animal</span> history certificate signed by the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> shall be maintained by the pet <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> for a period of two years following the date of sale.
			A <span class="dictionary">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&#x2019;s name, city, state, and USDA license number. A <span class="dictionary">pet shop</span> or a USDA licensed <span class="dictionary">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&#x2019;s name, city, state, and USDA license number. <a id="paragraph-259739" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-6512/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1984, c. 492, &#xA7; 29-213.48; 1987, c. 488, &#xA7; 3.1-796.78; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 448; 2019, c. 566.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
