Pet Stores shall not sell Companion Animals but may sell other living creatures including fish, birds, rodents, insects, arachnids, reptiles and other Permissible Exotic Animal.
(A) No Pet Store shall conduct business in the city without a Pet Store Permit (PSP).
(B) The applicant for a PSP must have a valid Tax ID Number and a City of Albuquerque Business Registration under the Business Registration Ordinance before applying for a PSP.
(C) The PSP must attach to a specific real property commercial site.
(D) No PSP Holder may sell or offer for sale any Animal from a mobile facility or at a site away from the PSP site.
(E) A PSP Holder shall not apply for or obtain an Intact Companion Animal Permit, Litter Permit or Multiple Companion Animal Site Permit.
(F) PSP Holders are liable for the medical costs including medicine, up to the amount the Animal was sold for, for any Animal that is diagnosed as sick by a Veterinarian qualified for the species within one week from the date of sale.
(G) The PSP Holder shall reimburse the patron the costs associated with the sick Animal, up to the amount paid by the patron when the Animal was purchased.
(H) The patron shall be allowed to keep the Animal, even if the PSP Holder pays the medical costs.
(I) The patron or the PSP Holder may appeal to the Administrative Hearing Officer if there is a dispute as to the fact of the Illness or the amount of the charges. If the PSP Holder does not prevail on appeal, the PSP Holder shall reimburse the costs of the appeal to the patron.
(J) Thorough and accurate records for each Animal that passes through a PSP site must be maintained and kept for three years and must be made available upon demand by the Mayor’s designee. These records shall include the name, address and telephone number of each Person who bought an Animal and information on where each Animal came from originally.
(K) Animals with known or suspected communicable diseases shall be isolated, as appropriate, and treated as soon as possible.
(L) The daily use of antibiotics for preventative purposes, and not to treat a specific Illness or condition, is prohibited whether administered in food, water or by any other method.
(Ord. 18-2006; Am. Ord. 2023-016)