The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Subchapter
003
:
KENNELS
(Cite as: 20 V.S.A. § 3682)
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§ 3682. Inspection of premises
(a) The pet dealer’s premises may be inspected upon the issuance of the pet dealer permit
or at any time the pet dealer permit is in effect. Inspections may be conducted by
a municipal animal control officer, a law enforcement officer as that term is defined
in 23 V.S.A. § 4(11), or a representative of the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The inspector
may, at his or her discretion and with the approval of the municipality, be accompanied
by a veterinarian or an officer or agent of a humane society incorporated in Vermont.
This section shall not create an obligation on the part of any municipal legislative
body to conduct inspections.
(b) Inspections shall be scheduled in advance with the pet dealer or pet dealer’s agent.
Inspections shall be conducted to facilitate compliance with the applicable standards
in Part 3 (Standards) of the Animal Welfare Rules adopted by the Agency of Agriculture,
Food and Markets relating to cats, dogs, and wolf-hybrids. The person or persons authorized
to inspect the pet dealer’s premises shall be accompanied by the pet dealer or pet
dealer’s agent. If the pet dealer’s premises are also used for human habitation, the
inspection may occur only in those areas of the premises used for animal housing,
animal care, birthing, and storage of food and bedding. Photographs or videos of the
pet dealer’s premises or property shall not be taken during an inspection and while
on the pet dealer’s premises without the written consent of the permit holder. Repeated
failure to consent to an inspection may result in a revocation of the pet dealer permit.
(c) If an inspector, during the course of an inspection under this section, has reason
to believe that a criminal animal welfare violation exists on the pet dealer’s premises,
nothing in this chapter shall preclude a criminal investigation into the suspected
violation or shall preclude seeking the remedies available under 13 V.S.A. chapter
8. Assessment of an administrative penalty under this chapter shall not prevent assessment
of a criminal penalty under 13 V.S.A. chapter 8.
(d) The inspector shall record the results of each inspection in a log and sign and date
each entry. The entries shall be submitted to the municipality, which shall maintain
records of all pet dealer inspections. A copy of the inspection results shall be provided
to the permit holder. (Amended 1971, No. 27, § 3, eff. March 24, 1971; 1989, No. 256 (Adj. Sess.), § 10(a), eff. Jan. 1, 1991; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2013, No. 30, § 5; 2021, No. 20, § 207.)