ANIMAL BILLS WE SUPPORT IN VA's 2019 SESSION

With Virginia's 2019 General Assembly session beginning January 9, animal advocates must contact their legislators now to press for support.  We recommend meeting with, calling, or emailing your senators, now, regarding Senate bills that have been pre-filed. (See the tool on our Home page to identify your legislators.)

We are pleased that our Coalition drafted language which has become SB 1043 Pet shops; procurement of dogs; penalty, sponsored by Senator Dave Marsden. We hope to close the loophole which has allowed large, for profit breeders in other States to sell dogs here without complying with Virginia's commercial breeder laws.  We expect this law to decrease the number of puppy mills selling to VA pet shops and to improve the health of animals sold here since animals could come only from better regulated operations, under the bill. 

In a related bill, Senator Marsden is sponsoring SB 1093 Virginia Consumer Protection Act; sale and boarding of animals. This bill will clarify that violations of certain posting, recording, and notice requirements are violations of the Act and can be pursued under that statute. The bill also increases the length of time records of each animal must be maintained; from one year to two years.

We also recommend passing, and your advocacy of the following bills:
SB 1025 Tethering animals, adequate shelter and space. Senator L. Spruill
SB 1011 Animal cruelty list; established. Senator W. Stanley
SB 1058 Companion animals; care; local ordinances. Senator B Favola
SB 1065 Rental or lease of dog or cat prohibited. Senator W. Stanley

Please feel free to comment here or enter discussions of the bills on our Facebook page, under Groups, NoVA Coalition for Animals.