Title 19 — Health
55 chapters · 745 sections in this title.
19 V.I.C. § 2801 Purpose of chapter
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In order to promote and protect the public health, safety and welfare of animals in a shelter environment, this chapter regulates animal shelters, pet shops, pet groomers, and kennels by establishing enforceable, uniform minimum standards of care for the physical, mental, and beh…
19 V.I.C. § 2802 Definitions
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(a) As used in this chapter:(a) “Ambient temperature” means the temperature surrounding an animal.(b) “Breeder” means any owner or keeper of a kennel who breeds more than 2 litters of dogs annually.(c) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Agri…
19 V.I.C. § 2803 Exercise of police power and written reports
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(a) All investigations and seizures of animals are the exercise of police power as set forth in 14 V.I.C. § 187 and 19 V.I.C. §§ 2603 and 2604 of this title. All animal shelters shall memorialize all investigations and seizures in a written report submitted to the Department of A…
19 V.I.C. § 2804 Inspections
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(a) The Department shall monitor all facilities that board animals for a fee or house animals for adoption, including, annual inspections, or upon a complaint. (b) The Department shall prepare and provide upon request a checklist based on the Guidelines for Standards of Care publ…
19 V.I.C. § 2805 Pet shop, pet groomer, kennels and animal shelter licenses
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(a) A person operating or desiring to operate a pet shop, pet grooming company, kennel or animal shelter business must be licensed by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs and pay the applicable license fee to operate in the Virgin Islands. Those businesses that qualif…
19 V.I.C. § 2806 Registration and animal shelter standards
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(a) A person operating or desiring to operate an animal shelter facility must be registered with the Department of Agriculture, provide evidence of its non-profit status, and affirm that the facility is operated in compliance with the Guidelines for Standards of Care published by…
19 V.I.C. § 2807 Issuance of licenses and tags, collection of fees, and keeping of record
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(a) Any animal shelter, as the representative of the Commissioner, and in accordance with the section 2605 of this title, shall diligently issue and process applications of dog licenses and tags for all dogs owned or harbored by residents of the island on which they are located. …
19 V.I.C. § 2808 Sanitation
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(a) The animal shelter shall make provisions for the removal and disposal of animal and food wastes, bedding, dead animals, and debris and provide and operate disposal facilities as to minimize vermin infestation, odors, and disease hazards. (b) Washrooms, sinks or basins, must b…
19 V.I.C. § 2809 Cooling, ventilation, and lighting of indoor facilities
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(a) An indoor housing facility for dogs and cats must be sufficiently ventilated to protect the dogs and cats and provide for their health and comfort. The facility must be provided with fresh air, either by means of windows, doors, vents, or air conditioning, and must be ventila…
19 V.I.C. § 2810 Shelter provided by outdoor facilities
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(a) When sunlight is likely to cause overheating or discomfort, sufficient shade must be provided to allow dogs and cats to protect themselves from the direct rays of the sun. (b) An access to shelter must be provided for dogs and cats to allow them to remain dry and protected du…
19 V.I.C. § 2811 Primary enclosures
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(a) A primary enclosure must provide sufficient space to allow each dog and adult cat to turn about freely and to easily stand, sit and lie in a comfortable, normal position. Where the primary enclosure is used for more than one cat, a resting perch for each cat must be provided.…
19 V.I.C. § 2812 Animal health and husbandry: feeding and water
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(a) Dogs and cats must be fed at least twice each day except as otherwise required. The food must be free from contamination and must be wholesome, palatable, and of sufficient quantity and nutritive value to meet the normal daily requirements for the condition and size of the an…
19 V.I.C. § 2813 Parasite treatment
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When a hosing or flushing method is used for cleaning a primary enclosure, any dog contained therein must be removed during the cleaning process and not returned until the enclosure is completely dry.
19 V.I.C. § 2814 Adoption
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(a) Each shelter shall form an adoption committee that will be responsible for creating and implementing a plan to host a minimum of four adoption events in the community where the animals may interact with potential placement. The Adoption Committee is responsible for maintainin…