§ 22-344f — Veterinarian examination of cat or dog imported into state by animal importer or person operating or maintaining animal shelter. Records of veterinary services rendered. Fines.

(a) Any animal importer and any person who operates or maintains an animal shelter, as defined in section 22-344, shall, not later than forty-eight hours after importing any dog or cat into this state and prior to the sale, adoption or transfer of such dog or cat to any person, provide for the examination of such dog or cat by a veterinarian licensed under chapter 384. Thereafter, such animal importer or person who operates or maintains an animal shelter shall provide for the examination of such dog or cat by a veterinarian licensed under chapter 384 every ninety days until such dog or cat is sold, adopted or transferred, provided no such dog or cat shall be sold, adopted or transferred to another person by an animal importer or person who operates or maintains an animal shelter unless (1) such dog or cat was examined by a veterinarian licensed under chapter 384 not more than fifteen days prior to the sale, adoption or transfer of such dog or cat, and (2) such veterinarian provides such animal importer or person who operates or maintains an animal shelter with a written certificate stating that such dog or cat is free of any symptoms of any illness, infectious, contagious or communicable disease. Such certificate shall list the name, address and contact information of such animal importer or person who operates or maintains an animal shelter. Any animal importer or person who operates or maintains an animal shelter who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be fined for a first violation, two hundred fifty dollars for each animal that is the subject of such violation, and for any subsequent violation, five hundred dollars for each animal that is the subject of such violation. (b) Each animal importer and each person who operates or maintains an animal shelter shall maintain a record of the veterinary services rendered to each dog or cat imported into this state by such animal importer or person. Such record shall be maintained by such animal importer or person for a period of three years. Any animal importer or such person who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be fined two hundred fifty dollars for a first violation and five hundred dollars for any subsequent violation.

Legislative History

(P.A. 11-187, S. 2; P.A. 21-90, S. 8.) History: P.A. 21-90 amended Subsec. (a) by adding references to person who operates or maintains animal shelter and changing fine from not more than $500 for each animal that is the subject of violation to $250 for each animal that is the subject of violation, for a first violation, and $500 for each animal that is the subject of such violation, for any subsequent offense, and amended Subsec. (b) by adding references to person who operates or maintains animal shelter and changing fine from $500 to $250 for a first violation and $500 for any subsequent violation, effective June 28, 2021.