Comprehensive pet store legislation that California lawmakers approved in 2007 becomes effective Jan. 1, 2009.

The new law establishes criteria and procedures for the appropriate and humane treatment of pet store animals. Among numerous mandates, the law requires that every pet store offering live animals:

• Retain a consulting veterinarian.
• Maintain records and documentation of veterinary care.
• Maintain a written operations manual.
• Comply with facility standards.

According to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington), most of the facility standards can be found in its Animal Care Guidelines for the Retail Pet Industry. The guidelines can be downloaded at www.pijac.org.

PIJAC also is providing independent pet stores with a model procedure manual it developed. It expected to distribute the manuals in November.

The new law allows animal control officers discretion to issue a “fix-it” ticket for noncompliance with certain provisions, specifying the alleged violation, the corrective action to be taken and the deadline for doing so. Failure to correct the problem, or cases of serious abuse or neglect, can result in infraction citations or actions initiated under the penal code.

The 2007 legislation was developed with the input of an industry coalition after an activist bill was killed in 2006.

The coalition also worked with legislators this year to amend language permitting pet stores to humanely euthanize feeder animals pursuant to American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines. The bill awaited Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signature at press time.  [December 2008 PET AGE]