2011 Vermont Code
Title 20 Internal Security and Public Safety
Chapter 194 WELFARE OF ANIMALS
§ 3901 Definitions

§ 3901. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(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 foodstuff shall be served in a clean and sanitary manner.

(2) "Adequate water" means a constant access to a supply of clean, fresh, potable water provided in a sanitary manner or provided at suitable intervals for the species and not to exceed 24 hours at any interval.

(3) "Ambient temperature" means the temperature surrounding the animal.

(4) "Animal" means any dog or cat, rabbit, rodent, bird, or other warm-blooded vertebrate but shall not include horses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and domestic fowl.

(5) "Animal shelter" means a facility which is used to house or contain animals and is owned, operated, or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other nonprofit organization devoted to the welfare, protection and humane treatment of animals.

(6) "Secretary" means the secretary of agriculture, food and markets.

(7) "Dealer" means any person who sells, exchanges, or donates, or offers to sell, exchange, or donate animals, but shall not include a person who makes disposition only of offspring from animals maintained by him only as household pets.

(8) "Euthanize" means to humanely destroy an animal by a method producing instantaneous unconsciousness and immediate death, or by anesthesia produced by an agent which causes painless loss of consciousness and death during the loss of consciousness. "Euthanasia" means the humane destruction of animals in accordance with this subdivision.

(9) "Housing facility" means any room, building, or area used to contain a primary enclosure or enclosures.

(10) "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, joint stock company, corporation, association, trust, estate, or other legal entity.

(11) "Pet shop" means a place where animals are bought, sold, exchanged, or offered for sale or exchange to the general public.

(12) "Primary enclosure" means any structure used to immediately restrict an animal or animals, excluding household pets, to a limited amount of space, such as a room, pen, cage, compartment or hutch.

(13) "Public auction" means any place or establishment where dogs or cats are sold at auction to the highest bidder whether individually, as a group, or by weight.

(14) "Fair" means any public or privately operated facility where animals are confined for the purpose of display and/or sale or for viewing.

(15) "Pet merchant" means any person who operates a pet shop or who acts as a dealer.

(16) "Rescue organization" means any organization that accepts more than five animals in a calendar year for the purpose of finding adoptive homes for the animals, and that:

(A) holds a license as a pet shop;

(B) is recognized and approved as a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, but is not registered as an animal shelter; or

(C) is registered as an animal shelter with the agency of agriculture, food and markets under section 3903 of this title. (Added 1971, No. 27, { 5, eff. March 24, 1971; amended 1993, No. 51 { 1; 2003, No. 42, { 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2009, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), { 10.)