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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76053</law_id><section_number>3.2-6593.1</section_number><catch_line>Animal testing facilities; adoption of dogs and cats</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-6592.1</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="13">Animal Research</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any <span class="dictionary">breeder</span> or <span class="dictionary">animal testing facility</span> that no longer has need for a dog or cat in its <span class="dictionary">possession</span> that does not pose a health or safety risk to the public or welfare of the animal shall (i) offer for release such dog or cat to a <span class="dictionary">releasing agency</span> for eventual <span class="dictionary">adoption</span> or for <span class="dictionary">adoption</span> through a private placement or (ii) in the case of a testing facility operated by an agency or institution of higher education, develop its own <span class="dictionary">adoption</span> program, provided that such program maintains records that comply with &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Animal control officers and humane investigators; limitations; records; penalties" href="/3.2-6557/">3.2-6557</a>. Such <span class="dictionary">breeder</span> or <span class="dictionary">animal testing facility</span> shall keep such offer for release open for a reasonable length of time, up to three weeks, prior to euthanizing such dog or cat. A <span class="dictionary">breeder</span> or <span class="dictionary">animal testing facility</span> may enter into an agreement with a <span class="dictionary">releasing agency</span> for the implementation of the provisions of this section. A <span class="dictionary">breeder</span> or <span class="dictionary">animal testing facility</span> shall not be liable for any harm caused by or any defect suffered by any dog or cat adopted pursuant to this section.
		For purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">breeder</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">breeder</span> who breeds dogs and cats for sale or transfer to an <span class="dictionary">animal testing facility</span>.</p></section></text><history>2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 340; 2022, c. 91.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
