Title 20, Title 20: Internal Security and Public Safety

§ 3591. Transfer of license A license from a municipal clerk shall be valid in any part of the State and may be transferred with the dog or wolf-hybrid licensed, provided such license is recorded by the clerk of the municipality where such dog or wolf-hybrid is kept. (Amended 199…

§ 3621. Issuance of warrant to impound; complaint (a)(1) The legislative body of a municipality may at any time issue a warrant to one or more police officers, constables, pound keepers, or appointed animal control officers, directing them to promptly impound all dogs or wolf-hyb…

§ 3622. Form of warrant Such warrant shall be in the following form: State of Vermont: ) ) __________ County, ss. ) To ________________ , constable or police officer of the town or city of _________________ : By the authority of the State of Vermont, you are hereby commanded to i…

§ 3623. Constable to make complaints A constable to whom a warrant has been issued pursuant to section 3621 of this subchapter shall make complaints required by the warrant to the designee of the legislative body of the municipality. (Amended 2017, No. 93 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 2021…

§ 3624. Who may destroy; fees (a) A police officer or constable shall humanely destroy or cause to be destroyed dogs or wolf-hybrids whenever a warrant has been issued authorizing such actions, except as exempted by section 3587 of this title. Any action must be taken within 90 d…

§ 3625. Return by officers Each police officer or constable to whom a warrant is issued pursuant to section 3621 of this subchapter shall make the return directed by the warrant to the authority issuing the warrant within 90 days from its date. (Amended 1977, No. 215 (Adj. Sess.)…

§ 3626. Certificate to State’s Attorney The selectboard or mayor shall annually, within ten days from July 25, transmit a certificate, subscribed and sworn to, of the fact of the issue of such warrant, and whether the same has been duly executed and returned agreeably to the prov…

§ 3681. Pet dealer permit A pet dealer shall apply to the municipal clerk of the town or city in which the cats, dogs, or wolf-hybrids are kept for a pet dealer permit to be issued on forms prescribed by the Secretary and pay the clerk a fee of $25.00 for the permit. A pet dealer…

§ 3682. Inspection of premises (a) The pet dealer’s premises may be inspected upon the issuance of the pet dealer permit or at any time the pet dealer permit is in effect. Inspections may be conducted by a municipal animal control officer, a law enforcement officer as that term i…

§ 3683. Quarantine of premises In the event such officer, representative, or agent and veterinarian shall find that domestic pets or wolf-hybrids are kept under unsanitary or inhumane conditions, that there is communicable disease among them, or that the condition of the domestic…

§ 3684. Offenses; bill of costs in prosecution The person operating a kennel who is found to have neglected to remedy conditions specified in a quarantine order issued pursuant to section 3683 of this subchapter, other than the prevalence of contagious disease, within ten days af…

§ 3748. Action by sheep owner against dog owner If sheep are worried, wounded, or killed by a dog, the owner or keeper of such dog, whether it is accustomed to worry, wound, or kill sheep or not, shall pay to the owner of such sheep double the damages sustained, to be recovered i…

§ 3749. Bounty on dog killing or worrying sheep Selectboard may offer a bounty of $5.00 for anyone killing a dog caught in the act of killing or worrying sheep.

§ 3801. Rabies control authority (a) In the event of an outbreak of rabies, the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife, and the Commissioner of Health shall work together to assist the affected towns. In addition to the responsibilities …

§ 3802. Quarantine With the approval of the Governor, a town, county, or the entire State may be placed under quarantine for such time as may be considered necessary by the Commissioner of Health or the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets. (Amended 1993, No. 213 (Adj. Sess…

§ 3803. Notice When a quarantine is established as provided in section 3802 of this title, notice of such quarantine shall be sent to the selectboard chairs, mayors, health officers, and to the town clerk of each municipality in the quarantined area. Notice of such quarantine sha…

§ 3806. Confining or impounding a domestic pet or wolf-hybrid (a) Any person authorized to enforce State livestock disease control, health, wildlife, or criminal laws and any person authorized to enforce local ordinances may confine or impound any domestic pet or wolf-hybrid when…

§ 3807. Killing a domestic pet or wolf-hybrid (a) When the legislative body, a municipal officer designated by the legislative body, the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Commissioner of the Department of Health, or the Secretary of the Agency of Agricultur…

§ 3808. Fees for killing domestic pets or wolf-hybrids Officers shall be entitled to the same fees for killing domestic pets or wolf-hybrids under the provisions of this subchapter as are provided in section 3624 of this title. The owner of an impounded domestic pet or wolf-hybri…

§ 3809. Killing a domestic pet or wolf-hybrid that attacks a person or domestic animal Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed as preventing any person from killing a suspected rabid domestic pet or wolf-hybrid that attacks a person, another domestic pet or wolf-hybrid, or …

§ 3811. Carcass disposal In order to protect the public health, the legislative body of a municipality or a municipal officer designated by the legislative body may dispose of the carcass of any animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies through incineration. Disposal of a…

§ 3812. Immunity from liability for volunteers Any person who as a volunteer conducts or assists at a nonprofit public clinic for inoculating domestic pets, wolf-hybrids, and domestic animals against rabies shall not be liable to any other person for injuries resulting from the l…

§ 3813. Vaccination administration (a) The Commissioner may purchase rabies vaccine for distribution at reduced cost to the public through rabies clinics. (b) The Commissioner shall ensure that reduced cost rabies clinics take place in all geographic areas of the State and shall …

§ 3814. Findings The General Assembly finds: (1) The supply of dogs, cats, and wolf-hybrids in Vermont is a major concern. (2) There are insufficient resources in this State to care for or provide homes for these animals. (3) Many of these animals are ultimately euthanized or bec…

§ 3815. Dog, cat, and wolf-hybrid spaying and neutering program (a) The Agency of Human Services shall administer a dog, cat, and wolf-hybrid spaying and neutering program providing reduced-cost spaying and neutering services and presurgical immunization for dogs, cats, and wolf-…

§ 3816. Animal Spaying And Neutering Fund; creation (a) There is created, pursuant to 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5, in the Agency of Human Services the Dog, Cat, and Wolf-Hybrid Spaying and Neutering Special Fund to finance the costs of the dog, cat, and wolf-hybrid spaying …

§ 3817. Rules; adoption authority The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets may adopt rules to implement this subchapter. (Added 2003, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 39.)

§ 3901. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Adequate feed” means the provision at suitable intervals, not exceeding 24 hours, of a quantity of wholesome foodstuff suitable for the species and age, sufficient to maintain a reasonable level of nutrition in each animal. All fo…

§ 3901a. Scope This chapter shall not apply to horses or livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and domestic fowl. (Added 2013, No. 30, § 6.)

§ 3902. Registration of fairs No person may operate a fair as defined under section 3901 of this title unless a certificate of registration for the fair has been granted by the Secretary. Application for the certificate shall be made in a manner provided by the Secretary. No fee …

§ 3903. Animal shelters and rescue organizations (a) [Repealed.] (b) Animal intake. An animal shelter or rescue organization as defined by section 3901 of this title shall make every effort to collect the following information about an animal it accepts: the name and address of t…

§ 3905. Public auctions No person may operate a public auction as defined in this chapter after September 24, 1971 unless a license to operate the auction has been granted by the Secretary. The license period shall be April 1 to March 31, and the license fee shall be $10.00 for e…

§ 3906. Licensing of pet shops (a) No person may transact business as a pet shop, as defined in this chapter, unless a license for that purpose has been granted by the Secretary to that person. Application for the license shall be made in the manner provided by the Secretary. The…

§ 3907. Denial or revocation of registration or license Issuance of a certificate of registration may be denied to any animal shelter, rescue organization, or fair or a license may be denied to any public auction or pet shop or any certificate or license previously granted under …

§ 3908. Adoption of rules The Secretary may as he or she deems necessary adopt, amend, revise, and repeal rules consistent with this chapter for the purpose of carrying out its purposes. The rules may include provisions relating to humane transportation to and from registered or …

§ 3909. Sale of animals by humane society The board of directors of an incorporated humane society shall determine the method of disposition of animals released by it. Any proceeds derived from the sale of animals by the society shall be paid to the clerk or treasurer of the huma…

§ 3910. Exceptions This chapter shall not apply to any place or establishment operated as an animal hospital under the supervision of a duly licensed veterinarian in connection with the treatment, alleviation, or prevention of diseases. (Added 1971, No. 27, § 5, eff. March 24, 19…

§ 3911. Penalties (a) Any person licensed or registered under this chapter who fails to provide animals under the person’s care or custody with adequate food or adequate water, as defined in section 3901 of this title, or who fails to house animals in the person’s care or custody…

§ 3912. Commitment of animals to Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets The Secretary or any officer of the Agency designated by the Secretary may file with the court in which a person was convicted of violating section 3911 of this chapter a petition for custody of animals in t…

§ 3913. Euthanasia certification (a) The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall establish rules for a euthanasia training program and certification process for persons completing the program. (b) The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall establish rules for t…

§ 3914. Special funds Fees collected under this subchapter shall be credited to a special fund and shall be available to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to offset the cost of providing the services. (Added 1999, No. 49, § 131; amended 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2…

§ 3915. Health certificate for transport into State (a) A dog, cat, ferret, or wolf-hybrid imported into the State for sale, resale, exchange, or donation shall be accompanied by an official health certificate or similar certificate of inspection for the dog, cat, ferret, or wolf…

§ 3921. Sale of a cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid; restitution (a) If, within seven days following the sale of a cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid by a pet dealer or pet shop, a licensed veterinarian of the consumer’s choosing certifies the cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid to be unfit for purchase due t…

§ 3922. Challenge by pet dealer or pet shop A pet dealer or pet shop may contest a demand for reimbursement, refund, or exchange under section 3921 of this title by requiring the consumer to produce the cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid for examination by a licensed veterinarian of the pe…

§ 3923. Administrative penalties The Secretary may assess administrative penalties under 6 V.S.A. §§ 15-17 not to exceed $1,000.00 for violations of this subchapter. (Added 2013, No. 30, § 6.)

§ 3924. Exemptions Duly incorporated humane societies, rescue organizations, or animal shelters that make animals available for adoption are exempt from the requirements of this subchapter. (Added 2013, No. 30, § 6.)