VDACS should strengthen oversight of puppies and kittens in pet stores.  In short, pet stores should be subject to the same high standards applied to animal shelters.  Since the source of puppies and kittens in pet stores come from animal breeders, pet stores should be required to engage veterinarians to developed protocols for puppies and kittens that are sick or become sick as a result of conditions under which they were bred or who have congenital deformities.

Additionally, VDACS should impose civil fines of up to $1000 per day until violations of state law are corrected -- this is the same regimen applied to animal shelters.  For example, many pet stores do not comply with state law to display USDA signs saying that inspection reports of breeder facilities which provide puppies are available.  This is just too easy to correct and pet stores should not be able to avoid law and deceive or mislead customers.

Thank you.