I live in Luray, VA and I care about animals. While I do support many of the VDACS proposed pet store regulations, including requiring unannounced inspections of all pet shops, I believe more must be included in these regulations to protect the welfare of puppies and kittens.Pet stores need to be held to the same requirements as our animal shelters in VA.

Basic standards of care for the animals must be met and if they are not, then there must be real consequences or why would the pet store owners even bother to comply?

If a pet store gets their permit revoked then there should be a waiting period before they can reapply. Otherwise, what's the point?

VDACS should also be able to bring civil penalties for regulatory violations, just as it can when enforcing animal shelter regulations.

Above all, if a pet store owner is found to have committed cruelty to animals, then they should never be allowed to get another permit! If this isn't included, then what kind of message are you sending?

Pet shops should be required to engage a licensed veterinarian to develop protocols for veterinary care, medications, presale exams, age-appropriate tests, and vaccinations just like our animal shelters already do.

These are all very basic and common sense measures that need to be added to the regulations that are currently being drafted. Dogs and cats are relying on you to help them since chances are the pet shop owners won't.