Bill Text: VA HB2417 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Dogs and cats; financing for rental, sale, etc., prohibited.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-07 - Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources [HB2417 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2023-HB2417-Introduced.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §3.2-6513.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§3.2-6513.2. Rental, lease, or financing of dog or cat prohibited; civil penalty.
A. As used in this section, "covered person" means any pet shop, commercial dog breeder, pet dealer, firm, or other pet selling business.
B. The rental or, leasing, or
financing 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 §6.2-100, access
partner, as defined in §6.2-1500, or covered person shall
offer, arrange, broker, negotiate, place, find, or
service in Virginia a any type of loan, credit, or financing
agreement for the financing,
rental, lease, or sale, or other
transfer of a dog or cat where the
animal is subject to repossession upon default under the terms of the financing
agreement.
E. D. Any
violation of this section shall also constitute a prohibited practice under §
59.1-200 and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of the Virginia
Consumer Protection Act (§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 §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. E. 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 §51.5-40.1, guide or leader dog as defined in §3.2-6588, security dog, police or law-enforcement dog, military working dog, or certified facility dog as defined in §18.2-67.9:1.
F. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the purchase of a dog or cat with a credit card as that term is defined in §6.2-424.
