pet stores; pet dealers

SB 1545 restricts Arizona pet stores and dealers from selling dogs or cats obtained from unlicensed breeders or those with recent USDA violations under the Animal Welfare Act. It requires stores to verify breeder compliance using the USDA’s online inspection tool before purchasing and to display the breeder’s name, USDA license number, and website on all animal listings. Violations trigger escalating civil penalties ($1,000 to $5,000 per violation) and potential three-year sales bans for repeat offenders. The law permits sales only from USDA-licensed breeders, public shelters, or nonprofit humane societies, with stores required to maintain records for two years.