                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SALE OF UNWEANED OR CERTAIN IMMATURE ANIMALS PROHIBITED, VACCINATIONS REQUIRED
FOR DOGS AND CATS; PENALTY (§ 3.2-6510)

A. No person shall sell, raffle, give away, or offer for sale as pets or
novelties, or offer or give as a prize, premium, or advertising device any
living chicks, ducklings, or other fowl under two months old in quantities of
less than six or any unweaned mammalian companion animal or any dog or cat under
the age of seven weeks without its dam or queen. Dealers may offer immature
fowl, unweaned mammalian companion animals, dogs or cats under the age of seven
weeks for sale as pets or novelties with the requirement that prospective owners
take possession of the animals only after fowl have reached two months of age,
mammalian companion animals have been weaned, and dogs and cats are at least
seven weeks of age. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the sale, gift, or
transfer of an unweaned animal: (i) as food for other animals; (ii) with the
lactating dam or queen or a lactating surrogate dam or queen that has accepted
the animal; (iii) due to a concern for the health or safety of the unweaned
animal; or (iv) to animal control, a public or private animal shelter, or a
veterinarian.

B. Dealers shall provide all dogs and cats with current vaccinations against
contagious and infectious diseases, as recommended in writing and considered
appropriate for the animal&#8217;s age and breed by a licensed veterinarian, or
pursuant to written recommendations provided by the manufacturer of such
vaccines at least five days before any new owner takes possession of the animal.
For dogs, the vaccinations required by this subsection shall include at a
minimum canine distemper, adenovirus type II parainfluenza, and parvovirus. For
cats, the vaccinations required by this subsection shall include at a minimum
rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. Dealers shall provide the new
owner with the dog&#8217;s or cat&#8217;s immunization history.

C. A violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

HISTORY: 1984, c. 492, § 29-213.40; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.70; 1993, c. 174;
1995, c. 625; 2006, c. 503; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 148.