Pet stores.

Existing law establishes the Pet Store Animal Care Act, which regulates the care and maintenance of animals in the custody of a pet store, and provides limits on the sale or transfer of those animals. A violation of the act is punishable as a misdemeanor. The act defines a pet store as any retail establishment open to the public and selling, or offering for sale, animals. This bill would revise the definition of a pet store to exclude the selling, or offering for sale, animals to an agricultural operation for purposes that are directly related to the raising of livestock or poultry on a farm or ranch. Under the act, an employee of a pet store may only destroy an animal intended as food for another animal in accordance with a prescribed methodology, provided the employee receives adequate training, as described. The act requires the completion of the employee's training to be documented in writing and retained by the pet store for 2 years. This bill would, instead, provide that a rodent or rabbit that is intended as food for another animal may be destroyed by a pet store operator or employee only in accordance with specified conditions, and only if the pet store operator or employee is certified, in writing, by a California-licensed veterinarian, as provided. The certification would be valid for no longer than 3 years, and could be renewed for additional 3-year periods. The pet store operator would be required to retain the certification for 3 years, unless a longer period is otherwise required by law. By changing the definition of a crime, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.