HB 278 - Unlawful Public Sale of Dogs and Cats

• Prohibits the sale, trade, barter, display, or offering for sale of live dogs or cats on streets, highways, public rights-of-way, commercial parking lots, public parks, swap meets, flea markets, farmers markets, parking lot sales, carnivals, and boardwalks as part of commercial transactions

• Exempts retail sales by pet stores on pet store premises and sales by publicly operated or private not-for-profit pounds, humane societies, animal rescue organizations, or adoption agencies

• Establishes civil penalties of up to $150 for a first offense and up to $500 for any subsequent offense

• Creates a civil violation rather than a criminal offense