(a) A person commits an offense if the person sells, exchanges, barters, gives away, or transfers, or offers or advertises for sale, exchange, barter, give away, or transfer, a dog or cat four months of age or older unless:
(1) the dog or cat is currently vaccinated or cannot be vaccinated due to health reasons as verified by a licensed veterinarian; and
(2) the person has a current registration receipt and registration tag for the dog or cat.
(b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) if the person is:
(1) animal services;
(2) an animal welfare organization; or
(3) an animal adoption agency.
(c) Except as provided in this subsection, a retail pet store commits an offense if the retail pet store sells, exchanges, barters, gives away, or transfers, or offers or advertises for sale, exchange, barter, give away, or transfer, a dog or cat, regardless of age.
(1) A retail pet store may provide space for the display of dogs or cats available for adoption by an animal shelter, animal welfare organization, or animal adoption agency, if the retail pet store does not have an ownership interest in any of the displayed dogs or cats and the retail pet store does not receive any fees or compensation associated with the display of the dogs or cats.
(2) It is a defense to prosecution under this subsection, if the individual only sells, gives, or otherwise transfers dogs or cats bred by that individual. (Ord. Nos. 26024; 32194, eff. 11-11-22)