BILL AS INTRODUCED H.567
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1 H.567
2 Introduced by Representative Krasnow of South Burlington
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Public safety; animal welfare; sale of animals
6 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to prohibit a pet
7 shop in the State from selling dogs, cats, or wolf-hybrids, unless the pet shop is
8 providing space to an animal shelter or a rescue organization offering dogs,
9 cats, or wolf-hybrids to the public for adoption for an adoption fee or the pet
10 shop was selling dogs, cats, or wolf-hybrids prior to July 1, 2024, and the pet
11 shop maintains its ownership and license and does not exceed the number of
12 dogs, cats, or wolf-hybrids sold prior in calendar year 2023.
13 An act relating to the sale of dogs, cats, and wolf-hybrids by pet shops
14 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
15 Sec. 1. 20 V.S.A. chapter 194, subchapter 4 is added to read:
16 Subchapter 4. Prohibiting Sale by Pet Shop
17 § 3931. SALE OF DOGS, CATS, AND WOLF-HYBRIDS BY PET SHOP;
18 PROHIBITED
19 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a pet shop shall not
20 offer a dog, cat, or wolf-hybrid for sale.
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1 (b) The prohibition under subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to
2 any of the following:
3 (1) A pet shop providing space to an animal shelter or a rescue
4 organization offering dogs, cats, or wolf-hybrids to the public for adoption for
5 an adoption fee, provided the pet shop does not have any ownership interest in
6 the dogs, cats, or wolf-hybrids offered for adoption and does not receive any
7 fee for providing space or for the adoption of any of the dogs, cats, or wolf-
8 hybrids.
9 (2) A pet shop that lawfully offered animals for sale prior to July 1,
10 2024, provided that the pet shop complies with all of the following:
11 (A) the pet shop maintains a valid license under section 3903 of this
12 title;
13 (B) the pet shop remains in the same ownership as existed on July 1,
14 2024; and
15 (C) the pet shop keeps for sale or offers for sale in any calendar year
16 no greater a number of dogs, cats, or wolf-hybrids than it kept for sale or
17 offered for sale in calendar year 2023.
18 (c) In order to qualify for the exception under subdivision (b)(2) of this
19 section, a pet shop shall provide to the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and
20 Markets, in a form and manner prescribed by the Department, documentation VT LEG #371897 v.1
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1 of the ownership of the pet shop on July 1, 2024 as well as the number of
2 animals offered for sale in 2023 and annually thereafter.
3 (d) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be assessed a
4 civil penalty of not more than $1,000.00 and shall be subject to the suspension
5 or revocation of the person’s pet shop license. Each instance of a person
6 offering an animal for sale in violation of this section constitutes a separate
7 violation.
8 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
9 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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