Separate pieces of legislation recently introduced in Vermont seek to place new restrictions on dog breeders.

House Bill 769 would deny a kennel permit to anyone who sells 20 or more litters or 100 or more domestic dogs or wolf-hybrids in any 12-month period. Kennel permits would be required for any person who owns or keeps two or more domestic pets or wolf-hybrids 4 months of age or older for sale or for breeding purposes. The bill resides in the House Committee on Government Operations where it awaited its first public hearing at press time.

Senate Bill 341 would set limits on the number of dogs a breeder can sell in a year. The bill defines a dog breeder as “any person who breeds one litter of puppies or more per year for sale to consumers for monetary consideration.”

The Senate bill also stipulates that a dog breeder must comply with several requirements:

•  Immunize each puppy with distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus and coronavirus vaccine between 7 and 8 weeks of age.
•  Have each puppy certified by a veterinarian, on a state-prescribed form, as fit and healthy and as having received appropriate vaccinations before it is 8 weeks of age.
•  Do not donate, sell or separate a puppy from the litter until the puppy is at least 8 weeks of age.
•  Do not sell or donate more than 19 litters or more than 100 dogs in any calendar year.

The legislation also provides that a kennel permit may not be issued, or renewed, to any person who sells 20 or more litters or 100 or more domestic dogs or wolf-hybrids in any 12-month period.

Violators would be fined up to $500 for each animal affected.