Commercial dog breeders shall:
1. Maintain no more than 50 dogs over the age of one year at any time for breeding purposes. However, a higher number of dogs may be allowed if approved by local ordinance after a public hearing. Any such ordinance may include additional requirements for commercial breeding operations;
2. Breed female dogs only: (i) after annual certification by a licensed veterinarian that the dog is in suitable health for breeding; (ii) after the dog has reached the age of 18 months; and (iii) if the dog has not yet reached the age of 8 years;
3. Dispose of dogs only by gift, sale, transfer, barter, or euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian;
4. Dispose of deceased dogs in accordance with § 3.2-6554;
5. Dispose of dog waste in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations; and
6. Maintain accurate records for at least five years including:
a. The date on which a dog enters the operation;
b. The person from whom the animal was purchased or obtained, including the address and phone number of such person;
c. A description of the animal, including the species, color, breed, sex, and approximate age and weight;
d. Any tattoo, microchip number, or other identification number carried by or appearing on the animal;
e. Each date that puppies were born to such animal and the number of puppies;
f. All medical care and vaccinations provided to the animal, including certifications required by a licensed veterinarian under this chapter; and
g. The disposition of each animal and the date.
2008, c. 852, § 3.1-796.77:2.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 3.2 - Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food
Chapter 65 - Comprehensive Animal Care
§ 3.2-6501. Regulations and guidelines
§ 3.2-6501.1. Regulations for the keeping of certain animals
§ 3.2-6503. Care of companion animals by owner; penalty
§ 3.2-6503.1. Care of agricultural animals by owner; penalty
§ 3.2-6504. Abandonment of animal; penalty
§ 3.2-6504.1. Civil immunity; forcible entry of motor vehicle to remove unattended companion animal
§ 3.2-6506. Exceptions regarding veterinarians
§ 3.2-6507. Injured or sick animal; action by veterinarian
§ 3.2-6507.1. Business license required
§ 3.2-6507.2. Commercial dog breeding; requirements
§ 3.2-6507.4. Concurrent operation of releasing agency prohibited
§ 3.2-6507.6. Duty of attorneys for the Commonwealth
§ 3.2-6508. Transporting animals; requirements; penalty
§ 3.2-6508.1. Sale of dogs or cats prohibited in certain places
§ 3.2-6509. Misrepresentation of animal's condition; penalties
§ 3.2-6509.1. Disclosure of animal bite history; penalties
§ 3.2-6511. Failure of dealer or pet shop to provide adequate care; penalty; report
§ 3.2-6511.1. Pet shops; procurement of dogs; penalty
§ 3.2-6511.2. Dealers; importation and sale of dogs and cats; penalty
§ 3.2-6513.1. Pet shops; posting of information about dogs
§ 3.2-6513.2. Rental or lease of dog or cat prohibited; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6514. Consumer remedies for receipt of diseased animal upon certification by veterinarian
§ 3.2-6515. Written notice of consumer remedies required to be supplied by pet dealers
§ 3.2-6517. Remedies cumulative
§ 3.2-6521. Rabies inoculation of companion animals; availability of certificate; rabies clinics
§ 3.2-6523. Inoculation for rabies at public or private animal shelters
§ 3.2-6524. Unlicensed dogs prohibited; ordinances for licensing cats
§ 3.2-6525. Regulations to prevent spread of rabies
§ 3.2-6526. What dog or cat license shall consist of
§ 3.2-6527. How to obtain license
§ 3.2-6528. Amount of license tax
§ 3.2-6529. Veterinarians to provide treasurer with rabies certificate information; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6530. When license tax payable
§ 3.2-6531. Displaying receipts; dogs to wear tags
§ 3.2-6532. Duplicate license tags
§ 3.2-6533. Effect of dog or cat not wearing a license tag as evidence
§ 3.2-6534. Disposition of funds
§ 3.2-6535. Supplemental funds
§ 3.2-6536. Payment of license tax subsequent to summons
§ 3.2-6537. Ordinances; penalties
§ 3.2-6537.1. Cash bond for a pet shop obtaining certain dogs
§ 3.2-6538. Governing body of any locality may prohibit dogs from running at large; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6539. Ordinance requiring dogs to be kept on leash
§ 3.2-6540. Dangerous dogs; investigation, summons, and hearing
§ 3.2-6540.01. Obligations of officer and owner following dangerous dog finding
§ 3.2-6540.02. Notice of dangerous dog finding; penalty
§ 3.2-6540.03. Violation of law by owner of dangerous dog; penalty
§ 3.2-6540.04. Subsequent attack or bite by dangerous dog; penalty
§ 3.2-6540.1. Vicious dogs; penalties
§ 3.2-6541. Authority to prohibit training of attack dogs
§ 3.2-6541.1. Authority to prohibit ownership of particular breed
§ 3.2-6542. Establishment of Dangerous Dog Registry
§ 3.2-6542.1. Renewal of dangerous dog registration
§ 3.2-6542.2. Dangerous dog fees; local fund
§ 3.2-6543. Governing body of any locality may adopt certain ordinances
§ 3.2-6543.1. Authority to enact parallel dangerous dog ordinance
§ 3.2-6544. Regulation of keeping of animals and fowl
§ 3.2-6545. Regulation of sale of animals procured from animal shelters
§ 3.2-6547. Acceptance of animals for research or experimentation; prohibition
§ 3.2-6550. Requirements for foster homes; penalty
§ 3.2-6551. Notification by individuals finding companion animals; penalty
§ 3.2-6552. Dogs killing, injuring, or chasing livestock or poultry
§ 3.2-6553. Compensation for livestock and poultry killed by dogs
§ 3.2-6554. Disposal of dead companion animals
§ 3.2-6555. Position of animal control officer created
§ 3.2-6556. Training of animal control officers
§ 3.2-6557. Animal control officers and humane investigators; limitations; records; penalties
§ 3.2-6558. Humane investigators; qualifications; appointment; term
§ 3.2-6559. Powers and duties of humane investigators
§ 3.2-6560. Expenses of humane investigators
§ 3.2-6561. Revocation of appointment of humane investigators
§ 3.2-6562.1. Rabies exposure; local authority and responsibility plan
§ 3.2-6562.2. Rabies exposure reports
§ 3.2-6563. When animals to be euthanized; procedure
§ 3.2-6564. Complaint of suspected violation; investigation
§ 3.2-6565. Impoundment; expenses; lien; disposition of animal
§ 3.2-6566. Preventing cruelty to animals; interference; penalty
§ 3.2-6567. Enforcement authority
§ 3.2-6568. Power of search for violations of statutes against cruelty to animals
§ 3.2-6570. Cruelty to animals; penalty
§ 3.2-6570.1. Sale of animals after cruelty or neglect conviction; penalty
§ 3.2-6571. Animal fighting; penalty
§ 3.2-6573. Shooting birds for amusement, and renting premises for such purposes; penalty
§ 3.2-6574. Sterilization of adopted dogs and cats; enforcement; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6575. Sterilization agreement
§ 3.2-6576. Sterilization confirmation; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6577. Notification concerning lost, stolen or dead dogs or cats; civil penalty
§ 3.2-6579. Releasing agency; fees and deposits
§ 3.2-6582. Hybrid canine ordinance; penalty
§ 3.2-6583. Hybrid canines killing, injuring or chasing livestock
§ 3.2-6584. Compensation for livestock and poultry killed by hybrid canines
§ 3.2-6585. Dogs and cats deemed personal property; rights relating thereto
§ 3.2-6585.1. Duty to identify; scanning for microchip
§ 3.2-6586. Dog injuring or killing other companion animals
§ 3.2-6587. Unlawful acts; penalties
§ 3.2-6588. Intentional interference with a guide or leader dog; penalty
§ 3.2-6589. Selling garments containing dog or cat fur prohibited; penalty
§ 3.2-6590. Jurisdiction of general district courts; right of appeal
§ 3.2-6592.1. Breeding cats and dogs for experimental purposes
§ 3.2-6593. Enforcement; civil action; penalty
§ 3.2-6593.1. Animal testing facilities; adoption of dogs and cats
§ 3.2-6595. Direct contact with dangerous captive animals prohibited