As a resident of Prince William County, VA, I support many of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (VDACS) proposed pet store regulations, including requiring unannounced inspections of all pet shops, but I believe more must be included in these regulations to protect the welfare of puppies and kittens.

for-profit pet shops at a minimum should be subject to animal welfare requirements at least as stringent as those currently in place for Virginia’s animal shelters.  There must be meaningful consequences for failing to comply with basic standards of care. VDACS should also be able to bring civil penalties for regulatory violations, just as it can when enforcing animal shelter regulations. And most importantly, if a pet shop operator is found to have committed cruelty to animals, the regulations should explicitly prohibit them from obtaining another permit. These are things that should be requirements at a minimum.  You have the power to make the world a better place for the animals!