Animal advocates are celebrating the passage of a new law in Virginia that they hope will make it harder for bad breeders to do business in the state and will get more pets adopted.
This week Governor Terry McAuliffe signed legislation that aims to shut down shady sellers by banning sales of dogs and cats in public places, including parking lots, flea markets or the side of the road. Even better it makes Virginia the third state to enact legislation restricting the sale of companion animals in pet stores.
Under the new law, which will go into effect in July, pet stores will need to obtain animals from rescues and shelters, or prove they came from a breeder with no violations of the Animal Welfare Act. They will also be required to keep and provide health records. Violators will be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor for each dog sold or offered for sale, which could bring up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
Matthew Gray, Virginia state director for The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), said in a statement:
We applaud Governor McAuliffe and the Virginia General Assembly for enacting real, tangible protections, not just for puppies, but also for all Virginians who are seeking to add a dog or cat to their family. By prohibiting Virginia pet stores from acquiring dogs from some of the worst puppy mills in the nation, and cracking down on unregulated sales of dogs and cats at flea markets, parking lots and rest stops, this bill makes the Commonwealth an even more humane and pet-friendly place for everyone.
This past November, the HSUS sent investigators into Virginia pet stores and found what it called “widespread deception, omissions and cover-ups” intended to trick well-meaning customers into buying their dogs …most of who came from deplorable conditions in puppy mills.
Among a host of problems ranging from obviously sick puppies in stores to blatant lies being told by employees, the organization found six of the pet stores it investigated had purchased puppies from mills so bad they had previously been identified by name in its 101 Puppy Mills report on problem breeders across the country.
While many stores continue to defend selling dogs by saying they only source from breeders who are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), it’s important to note that standards for basic care under USDA guidelines are disgustingly low and violations continue to go without consequences that are severe enough to incite meaningful change within the industry.
Fortunately, as awareness about the seriousness of the problems that surround large-scale commercial breeders and their relationships with pet stores continues to grow, more areas are adopting and working towards adopting, common-sense laws that address this issue.
Hopefully Virginia’s new law will help protect both consumers who want to welcome a new member to their families and dogs who are left behind at mills by cutting off suppliers.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/why-dog-breeders-in-virginia-arent-happy.html#ixzz3WT7KTGJ6
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