Bill Text: VA HB870 | 2018 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Pet shops; cash bond, obtaining animals from a dealer.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-13 - Left in Counties, Cities and Towns [HB870 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-HB870-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 15.2 a section numbered 15.2-926.4 as follows:
§15.2-926.4. Cash bond for a pet shop obtaining animals from a dealer.
A. Any locality may, by ordinance, require a pet shop to furnish a cash bond of up to $5,000 per dealer from whom the pet shop has obtained an animal for sale within the past year.
Any cash bond collected by a locality pursuant to this section shall be held in escrow to be returned to the pet shop until such time as a pet shop is no longer in business, the pet shop has not conducted business with such dealer within the past year, or the bond is disbursed as provided by subsection C.
B. For the purposes of this section, "dealer" has the same meaning as that term is defined in 9 C.F.R 1.1, but "dealer" does not include a person who has obtained a commercial dog breeding license pursuant to §3.2-6507.1.
C. If, at any time within 10 days following receipt of an animal, a licensed veterinarian certifies such animal to be unfit for purchase due to illness, a congenital defect deleterious to the health of the animal, or the presence of symptoms of a contagious or infectious disease other than parvovirus, or if, at any time within 14 days following the receipt of an animal, a licensed veterinarian certifies such animal to be unfit for purchase due to being infected with parvovirus, and the pet shop or dealer cannot provide an appropriate remedy, the locality may use such bond to compensate the purchaser of the animal.
