                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

RENTAL OR LEASE OF DOG OR CAT PROHIBITED; REQUIREMENTS FOR FINANCING A DOG OR
CAT; CIVIL PENALTY (§ 3.2-6513.2)

A. As used in this section, &#8220;covered person&#8221; means any pet shop,
commercial dog breeder, pet dealer, firm, or other pet selling business.

B. The rental or leasing of a dog or cat to a Virginia consumer, including by a
purported sale of the animal in such a manner as to vest less than full equity
in the consumer at the time of the purported sale, is prohibited.

C. No covered person shall offer in Virginia an agreement for the transfer or
sale of a dog or cat to the consumer in which the animal is subject to
repossession in any manner upon default of the agreement by the consumer.

D. No financial institution, as defined in &#xA7; 6.2-100, shall offer in
Virginia a loan or financing agreement for the rental, lease, or sale of a dog
or cat where the animal is subject to repossession upon default under the terms
of the financing agreement.

E. Any violation of this section shall also constitute a prohibited practice
under &#xA7; 59.1-200 and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of the
Virginia Consumer Protection Act (&#xA7; 59.1-196 et seq.). In addition, any
covered person that violates any provision of this section may have its business
license, retail license, or local pet shop permit issued pursuant to &#xA7;
3.2-6537 suspended or revoked after a hearing by the issuing authority. The
court may also suspend or revoke the retail license of any business found to be
in violation of this section.

F. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the temporary rental or
lease of any of the following animals, so long as the animal is used in
accordance with applicable federal, state, and local animal protection laws:

   1. A purebred dog that is rented for the express purpose of breeding pursuant
   to a written lease that sets out a specific time period, contains a firm end
   date, and is recorded with a national purebred dog registry;

   2. A dog or cat that is used in spectator events, shows, exhibitions, motion
   pictures, or other entertainment, including animal exhibitions, racing events,
   field trials, polo matches, rodeo events, or any audiovisual media; or

   3. A service dog as defined in &#xA7; 51.5-40.1, guide or leader dog as
   defined in &#xA7; 3.2-6588, security dog, police or law-enforcement dog,
   military working dog, or certified facility dog as defined in &#xA7;
   18.2-67.9:1.

G. The financing of a dog or cat is prohibited unless such financing complies
with the provisions of &#xA7; 6.2-436 and any other applicable state or federal
law related to consumer credit.

HISTORY: 2020, c. 630; 2024, c. 382.