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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6542
January Session, 2021
LCO No. 3413
Referred to Committee on PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Introduced by:
(PD)
AN ACT CONCERNING MU NICIPAL RESTRICTIONS ON PET SHOPS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 22-344b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 2
(a) A pet shop licensee shall, prior to offering a dog or cat for sale and 3
thereafter at intervals of fifteen days until such dog or cat is sold, 4
provide for examination of such dog or cat by a veterinarian licensed 5
under chapter 384. Such licensee shall maintain a record of the 6
veterinary services rendered for each dog or cat offered for sale. 7
(b) (1) If, (A) within twenty days of sale, any such dog or cat becomes 8
ill or dies of any illness which existed in such dog or cat at the time of 9
the sale, or (B) within six months of sale, any such dog or cat is 10
diagnosed with a congenital defect that adversely affects or will 11
adversely affect the health of such dog or cat, such licensee shall: (i) 12
Reimburse such consumer for the value of the actual services and 13
medications provided to such dog or cat by any veterinarian licensed 14
pursuant to chapter 384 for the treatment of such illness or congenital 15 Raised Bill No. 6542
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defect upon the presentation by such consumer to such licensee of a 16
certificate from such veterinarian that such dog or cat suffers or suffered 17
from such illness or congenital defect, provided such reimbursement 18
shall not exceed (I) the full purchase price of such dog or cat for any dog 19
or cat purchased for five hundred dollars or more, and (II) five hundred 20
dollars for any dog or cat purchased for less than five hundred dollars. 21
No licensee may require the consumer to return such dog or cat to such 22
licensee to receive such reimbursement, or (ii) at the option of such 23
consumer, replace the dog or cat or refund in full the purchase price of 24
such dog or cat: (I) In the case of illness or such congenital defect, upon 25
return of the dog or cat to the pet shop and the receipt of a certificate 26
from a veterinarian licensed under chapter 384 and selected by the 27
consumer, stating that the dog or cat is ill from a condition which existed 28
at the time of sale, or suffers from such congenital defect, and (II) in the 29
case of death, the receipt of a certificate from a veterinarian licensed 30
under chapter 384 and selected by the consumer, stating that the dog or 31
cat died from an illness or a congenital defect which existed at the time 32
of sale. The presentation of such certificate shall be sufficient proof to 33
claim reimbursement or replacement and the return of such deceased 34
dog or cat to the pet shop shall not be required. Any such consumer may 35
seek the assistance of the Commissioner of Agriculture in the event that 36
the licensee fails to reimburse such consumer in accordance with the 37
provisions of this subsection. No such refund or replacement shall be 38
made if such illness or death resulted from maltreatment or neglect by 39
a person other than the licensee or such licensee's agent or employee. A 40
licensee shall not be subject to the obligations imposed by this 41
subsection for the sale of a cat where such cat has been spayed or 42
neutered prior to its sale. 43
(2) Each pet shop licensee who sells dogs or cats shall post a statement 44
of customer rights pursuant to this section in a location that is readily 45
visible to the public and also provide a copy of such statement to any 46
purchaser of a dog or cat at the time of purchase. The commissioner shall 47
prescribe the content of such statement. Any statement of customer 48
rights posted pursuant to this section shall be printed in black lettering 49 Raised Bill No. 6542
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of not less than twenty point size upon a white background. Any 50
licensee who violates the provisions of this subdivision shall be fined 51
two hundred fifty dollars. 52
(c) Any licensee who violates any provision of subsection (a) or 53
subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section shall be fined not more 54
than five hundred dollars. Any fine assessed pursuant to this subsection 55
for a failure to reimburse a consumer, as described in subsection (b) of 56
this section, shall not preclude or be in lieu of any such reimbursement. 57
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a 58
municipality from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that places 59
additional obligations or restrictions on pet shops pursuant to 60
subparagraph (D) of subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of section 7-148. 61
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2021 22-344b
Statement of Purpose:
To clarify that a municipality may enact or enforce an ordinance to place
certain obligations or restrictions on pet shops.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]