                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PET SHOPS; PROCUREMENT OF DOGS; PENALTY (§ 3.2-6511.1)

A. A pet shop shall sell or offer for adoption a dog procured only from a humane
society; a private or public animal shelter as those terms are defined in &#xA7;
3.2-6500; or a person who has not received from the U.S. Department 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 citation for a
direct or critical violation or citations for three or more indirect or
noncritical violations for at least two years prior to the procurement of the
dog or (ii) two consecutive citations for no access to the facility prior to the
procurement of the dog and who has not knowingly obtained the dog directly or
indirectly from a person with such citations.

B. It is unlawful for any dealer or commercial dog breeder who is not licensed
or exempted from licensure by the U.S. Department 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 pet shop.

C. A pet shop shall retain records verifying compliance with this section for a
minimum of two years after the disposition of any dog.

D. No person shall serve as an owner, director, officer, manager, operator,
member of staff, or animal caregiver of a pet shop if such person has been
convicted of a violation of &#xA7; 3.2-6570.

E. Prior to selling or giving for adoption any dog, a pet shop shall obtain a
signed statement from the purchaser or adopter specifying that such person has
never been convicted of a violation of &#xA7; 3.2-6570.

F. A pet shop, upon taking custody of any dog, or any representative of a pet
shop upon taking custody of any dog on behalf of the pet shop, shall immediately
make a record of the matter in accordance with &#xA7; 3.2-6513.1.

G. Any person violating any provision of subsection A, B, C, or E is guilty of a
Class 1 misdemeanor for each dog sold or offered for sale. Any person violating
any provision of subsection D is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

HISTORY: 2008, c. 852, § 3.1-796.71:1; 2015, c. 679; 2017, c. 399; 2021, Sp.
Sess. I, c. 339; 2025, c. 610.