§2511. Restrictions on the retail sale of dogs and cats
A. As used in this Part, the following terms are defined as follows:
(1)"Animal care facility" means an animal control center or animal shelter,
maintained by or under contract with any state, parish, or municipality, whose mission or
practice is protecting the welfare of animals and the placement of animals in permanent
homes or with animal rescue organizations.
(2)"Animal rescue organization" means any not-for-profit organization which has
tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, whose mission and
practice is the rescue of animals and the placement of those animals in permanent homes, and
which does not obtain dogs or cats from a breeder or broker for payment or compensation.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
§2511. Restrictions on the retail sale of dogs and cats
A. As used in this Part, the following terms are defined as follows:
(1) "Animal care facility" means an animal control center or animal shelter,
maintained by or under contract with any state, parish, or municipality, whose mission or
practice is protecting the welfare of animals and the placement of animals in permanent
homes or with animal rescue organizations.
(2) "Animal rescue organization" means any not-for-profit organization which has
tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, whose mission and
practice is the rescue of animals and the placement of those animals in permanent homes, and
which does not obtain dogs or cats from a breeder or broker for payment or compensation.
(3) "Breeder" means a person who holds a class A license pursuant to the federal
Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq., that has not been suspended in the last five years.
(4) "Cat" means a member of the Felis catus family.
(5) "Dog" means a member of the Canis familiaris family, or hybrid thereof.
(6) "Offer for sale" means to sell, offer for sale or adoption, barter, auction, give
away, or otherwise dispose of a dog or cat.
(7) "Retail pet store" means a retail establishment where dogs or cats are sold,
exchanged, bartered, or offered for sale as pet animals to the general public at retail. Such
definition shall not include an animal care facility or animal rescue organization.
(8) "USDA" means the United States Department of Agriculture.
B. A retail pet store shall offer for sale only dogs and cats that have been obtained
from the following sources:
(1) A breeder that is in compliance with R.S. 3:2772(H).
(2) A breeder that has not received from the USDA, pursuant to the Animal Welfare
Act, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq., or regulations adopted thereunder, any of the following:
(a) A citation on an inspection report for a direct violation during the three-year
period prior to the purchase of the dog or cat by the pet store.
(b) A citation on an inspection report during the three-year period prior to the
purchase of the animal by the pet store for three or more indirect violations.
(c) A citation on the two most recent inspection reports prior to the purchase of the
animal by the pet store for no-access violations.
(3) An animal care facility.
(4) An animal rescue organization.
C. A retail pet store shall not offer for sale a dog or cat that is younger than eight
weeks old.
D. Each retail pet store offering dogs or cats for sale shall post, in a conspicuous
location on the cage or enclosure for each dog or cat, a sign containing the name of the
breeder, the breeder's USDA license number, and, if the breeder is required to be licensed
in the state in which the breeder is located, the breeder's state license number.
E. Every retail pet store offering dogs or cats for sale shall maintain records of the
source of each dog or cat, including a description of the dog or cat, the name, business
address, email address, and USDA license number of the breeder for at least two years
following the date of acquisition. Such records shall be made available, immediately upon
request, to any law enforcement officer or animal control officer.
F. Nothing contained in this Section shall prohibit a municipality or parish from
enacting ordinances or regulations establishing more stringent restrictions governing the sale
of animals at retail pet stores.