Pet stores - brokers - exceptions - short title

(1) The short title of this section is the "Pistol the Pomeranian Protection Act". (2) (a) On and after January 1, 2028, a pet store shall not sell, lease, offer to sell or lease, barter, auction, or otherwise transfer ownership of a dog or cat. (b) Nothing in this section prohibits a pet store from providing space for the display of dogs or cats available for adoption if: (I) The dogs or cats are displayed by a licensed animal shelter or pet animal rescue; (II) The pet store does not receive a fee in connection with the display of the dogs or cats; and (III) Any dog or cat displayed for adoption is sterilized in accordance with applicable state and local regulations. (3) Nothing in this section precludes a statutory or home rule town, city, county, or city and county from enacting laws more stringent than the requirements of this section. (4) (a) A broker shall not sell, lease, offer to sell or lease, barter, auction, or otherwise transfer ownership of a dog or cat. (b) Subsection (4)(a) of this section does not apply to: (I) The sale, transfer, or adoption of an animal, including a law enforcement animal, to a governmental agency; (II) The sale, transfer, or adoption of a guide, signal, or service dog; (III) The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat by an animal shelter or pet animal rescue; (IV) The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog bred or trained for lawful hunting to or by an individual who possesses a current hunting license in good standing issued by the division of parks and wildlife pursuant to article 4 of title 33; (V) The sale or transfer of a dog or cat by the original breeder of the dog or cat; (VI) The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat by a health-related research facility pursuant to section 35-82-102; or (VII) Prior to January 1, 2028, the sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat to or by a pet store.