Bill > H0841

This bill makes several changes to animal welfare laws in Vermont, including establishing the Division of Animal Welfare within the Department of Public Safety, headed by a Director who will develop a comprehensive plan for enforcing animal welfare laws and investigating cruelty complaints. The Division will be empowered to adopt rules, such as requiring outdoor cats to be vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and licensed, and will have inspection authority similar to municipal animal control officers. The bill also expands the funding sources for the Animal Welfare Fund to include donations and a tax checkoff option, limits the number of dogs an individual can own to 35 (excluding puppies and spayed/neutered dogs), requires wolf-hybrids to be spayed or neutered before licensing, and mandates that pet dealers, animal shelters, rescue organizations, and animal breeders obtain general liability insurance. Additionally, advertisements for animal adoptions must include the animal's location and the advertiser's license number, and the bill clarifies that the Director of Animal Welfare can inspect pet dealers' premises. Finally, it establishes a program to train humane officers as certified rabies vaccinators who cannot accept payment for their services and are immune from liability, and requires animal shelters and rescue organizations to report specific information about animals they accept to the Director of Animal Welfare.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.841