Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-102
§2138 Purchase of Dogs or Cats by United States Government Facilities Prohibited Except From Authorized Operators of Auction Sales and Licensed Dealers or Exhibitors
Title 7 › CHAPTER 54 — TRANSPORTATION, SALE, AND HANDLING OF CERTAIN ANIMALS › § 2138
Summary
Federal agencies that use animals for research or display must not get dogs or cats unless they come from auction operators or from dealers or exhibitors licensed by the Secretary, unless the seller is exempt from license rules.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §2138
Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
No department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States which uses animals for research or experimentation or exhibition shall purchase or otherwise acquire any dog or cat for such purposes from any person except an operator of an auction sale subject to section 2142 of this title or a person holding a valid license as a dealer or exhibitor issued by the Secretary pursuant to this chapter unless such person is exempted from obtaining such license under section 2133 of this title.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1970—Pub. L. 91–579 inserted reference to instrumentalities of the United States which use animals for exhibition and added operators of auction sales subject to section 2142 of this title and licensed exhibitors to the enumeration of persons from whom United States Government facilities may acquire dogs or cats.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–579 effective one year after Dec. 24, 1970, see section 23 of Pub. L. 91–579, set out as a note under section 2131 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 2138
Title 7, Agriculture
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102