On behalf of the responsible pet care community, we ask that you vote NO on House Bill 1238, which would allow local municipalities to enact their own regulations, restrictions and bans on any pet store that sells animals. Virginia already has strong, enforceable statewide laws governing pet stores, ensuring uniformity and high standards of care. The best way to protect animals and consumers is through a clear, statewide system—not a patchwork of inconsistent local rules that could weaken animal protections.

Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. I work for XO PUPS in Virginia, and compliance is already rigorous. Layering differing local rules on top of strict statewide requirements would make operations nearly unmanageable. We already meet strong standards for transparency, care, inspections, and health. Adding local restrictions does nothing to improve animal safety and only penalizes responsible retailers. I urge you to report HB 1238 unfavorably."

"Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. My name is Ayman Koshok, and I own XO PUPS. Our team and the VPAA have worked hard to support strong, consistent statewide oversight of our industry. HB 1238 would create a confusing patchwork of local rules that small businesses can't reasonably navigate. We already have clear, effective statewide standards that work. This bill replaces consistency with conflict, and l urge you to vote 'no' to protect small business stability."

Chair and Members of the Committee, My name is Jennifer Toussaint, and I am writing on behalf of the Virginia Animal Control Association Board and Membership in support of HB 1238. The Virginia Animal Control Association represents animal control professionals serving communities throughout the Commonwealth. Our members are the front-line responders when issues arise involving companion animal sales. Under existing Virginia law, localities may adopt certain animal-related ordinances that mirror state code provisions. However, current statute does not clearly and explicitly authorize local governments to regulate or restrict the acquisition, marketing, and sale of animals in pet shops. That gap has limited some communities’ ability to address documented concerns at the local level. HB 1238 does not create a statewide ban and it does not mandate action. What it does is clarify and restore explicit authority for local governing bodies to regulate or restrict pet shop animal sales by ordinance, if they determine it is appropriate for their jurisdiction. Animal control officers are the professionals who respond when problems surface. We investigate complaints involving sick animals sold to consumers, manage surrenders when unexpected medical costs overwhelm families, and address enforcement and shelter intake impacts that follow. These consequences are handled locally — operationally and financially. If local governments are responsible for managing those impacts, they should have clear authority to address them. HB 1238 is a permissive bill. Communities that determine their current regulatory framework is sufficient may maintain their existing approach. Communities facing documented challenges would have the flexibility to adopt solutions that reflect their local needs and resources. On behalf of the Virginia Animal Control Association and the professionals we represent across the Commonwealth, we respectfully urge you to support HB 1238. Thank you for your time and consideration.

“Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. My name is Annellajo Sharpe, and I own Family Pet. Targeting a single, state‑licensed industry for broad local restriction is unprecedented in Virginia. Pet shops are recognized legal entities. Allowing localities to independently restrict our marketing, acquisition, and sales contradicts state law and invites legal conflict. Animal welfare is best served through a unified statewide code—not a piecemeal system that varies by locality.”

House Bill 1238 simply permits localities to address problems associated with pet stores in their own communities. It does not mandate action. It does not impose a statewide ban. It provides local authority where local responsibility already exists. Across Virginia, it is local animal shelters — many of them taxpayer funded — that are charged with managing companion animal populations and dealing with the consequences when problems arise. When commercially bred animals are sold without adequate oversight, the costs often fall not on the retailer, but on the public: sick animals surrendered to shelters, veterinary expenses, enforcement challenges, and increased intake burdens. Local governments and their taxpayers absorb those costs. Localities already bear the responsibility. They should also have the authority. HB 1238 recognizes that conditions differ from one community to another. What may be manageable in one locality may present serious challenges in another. Current statutes do not provide sufficient flexibility for communities to respond to documented problems in a way that reflects their own needs and resources. This is a “may” bill, not a “shall” bill. It does not force any locality to act. It simply restores the ability of local elected officials — those closest to the issue and accountable to their constituents — to make decisions that protect consumers, animals, and taxpayers. Supporting HB 1238 is a vote for local control, fiscal responsibility, and practical governance. Localities need your support. Sharon Quillen Adams, VA Alliance for Animal Shelters

I'm Gina Lynch speaking on behalf of Northern Virginia Coalition for Animals supporting HB1238. Puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills where females are breed continuously and live their endure lives in wire cages out in the extreme hot and freezing cold weather. The puppies are then transported across the country and end up in our pet stores. Many cruel conditions have been found locally, for example: -25 puppies were seized from Capital City Pups -17 puppies were seized from Petland, and 31 rabbits were found dead in the freezer -2 dogs were seized from My Next Puppy -45 puppies were seized from Dreamy Puppy These are just some of the issues. How many more have there been? How many more puppies must suffer until we stop the cruel practice of selling them in pet stores. We would not tolerate this barbaric treatment of our own puppies - why do we allow it for puppies from puppy mills?

This is a way to save money by cutting off issues that gov money is spent to fix by simply granting freedom to regulate a root cause.

I'm Gina Lynch speaking on behalf of Northern Virginia Coalition for Animals supporting HB 1238. Puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills where females are breed continuously and endure lives in wire cages left out in the extreme heat and freezing cold all year long. The puppies are then transported across the country and end up in our pet stores. Cruel conditions have been found locally; for example: -25 puppies were seized from Capital City Pups -17 animals were seized from Petland (and 31 rabbits were found in the refrigerator) -2 dogs were seized from My Next Puppy -45 puppies were seized from Dreamy Puppy And these are just some of the issues found. How many more have there been? How many more puppies must suffer until we stop the cruel practice of selling them in pet stores. We would not tolerate this treatment of our own puppies - why do we allow it for puppies from puppy mills.

Hello Delegates, I am writing in opposition of HB1396. This bill had been brought fourth by landowners groups that falsely claim to represent and maximize property owners rights when in fact they are property owners that want to end the tradition of hound hunting. This is proven by these groups comments on their own social media pages. These groups have made claim that only 8 states allow the use of hounds to hunt, a stat quoted by delegates in the subcommittee, that is simply a false statement, currently only 9 states allow hounds to be used to hunt deer but nearly every state allows the utilization of dogs to hunt other game species many not requiring an special license to do so. I ask the delegates to understand that the vast majority of the members of the hound hunting organizations are land owners as well in addition to all of the landowners who lease or allow hound hunting on their land support the tradition of hound hunting. This bill creates a permit allowing the DWR create and issue permits on a may issue criteria with visual permit requirements for hounds and vehicles. If Additional funding is needed to police game laws the bill should be amended to a license just like an archery or muzzleloading license that is a shall issue. Additionally the cost for said license should be reduced and required for all that utilize or partcipate in any type of hunting that utilizes a dog. Dogs are already required to have owner contact info on their collar and their vehicles have state issued license plates therefore marking is not necessary. Lastly the only ones who should be exempt from license purchase are those that utilize dogs to hunt on their own land. This simplifies the requirements and makes it fair for all parties. Basically if big game is harvested and checked in and the use of dogs is checked as a part of big game license registering process they should be required to have a dog hunting license or be exempt as a land owner. I hope that you find this as a reasonable comprise. Additionally there needs to be some sort of recourse for false complaints or accusations. If this bill continues as is it will create more tensions between those who utilize dogs to hunt and those who don't like the use of hunting dogs. False complaints will continue to increase cause additional hunter harassment and tension between hunters and those that oppose it. Thank you for your time. V/R, B. C. Bunch

To who ever may read this message My name is jacob austin and me and my family live thur out Amherst Nelson and big island. We have hunted coon hounds for 4 generations starting with my great grand father (van staton)to my grandmother (Betty austin) to my father (Ernest donold austin j)r to me and my brother (Matthew austin) this is a tradition that we have cherished since we were lil kids see are dad go out every night after working long hours him telling us stories about papa van with was amazed by the places he want things he got to see walking thru the nights to get to his dogs. By time we was old enough he let us go with him he grab his 4 year old male walker hounds aka storm man he was one hell of a hound but that but im getting of track but as I got older my life changed drastically mom and father got divorced and I just went into a deep state of depression thinking it was my fault and I was just ready to just leave this earth to go to a better place but no I just hooked my trailer up to my four-wheeler and loaded my dog box and hound aka Rosco p coal train a freeing walker hound and being in the woods just help me forget everything that was happening hearing the sound of him freeing in the holler of those mountains is music for a hurting soul and mind walking to the tree being excited to see what's up there is just my way of therapy for me. I like for my kids, grandkids and everyone after me to still be able to carry on this family tradition turn to running hounds or being out in nature to enjoy what the good lord has created for us inside of turning to hard drugs to make that pain go away if someone has read this is really appreciate u taking u time to read it and have a blessed day

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on HB1238 – Local ordinances; regulation of pet shops. As a long‑standing pet store operator committed to responsible animal care, I am deeply concerned about the practical consequences this bill would create for both regulated businesses and consumers. We at Pet Supplies Plus oppose HB1238. HB1238 introduces several significant challenges that would negatively affect small businesses, animal‑care consistency, and consumer safety: Fragmented Regulations Across Localities Allowing every locality to create its own licensing rules, inspection frameworks, and sales restrictions would result in a confusing patchwork of requirements. This makes it extremely difficult for businesses to operate consistently or train teams to a single standard of care. Increased Risk of Puppy Scams and Unregulated Sales When regulated pet stores face local bans or severe restrictions, customers often turn to online or informal sources. Consumer‑protection agencies have documented higher rates of online puppy scams in areas where regulated storefront options diminish. This shift pushes families toward unverified breeders, sellers with no accountability, and transactions lacking transparency. Expanded Market for Unregulated Breeders Sales restrictions in inspected, overseen pet stores frequently redirect demand to breeders who operate without oversight. This reduces consumer protection and makes it far harder for pet owners to verify health, vaccination status, or humane standards. Duplicative Local Oversight Additional local licensing, paperwork, or inspections—on top of existing state requirements—could create administrative burdens without improving welfare outcomes. Aligning oversight under a consistent statewide structure ensures fairness and clarity. Given these concerns, this bill would impose substantial operational difficulties, reduce consumer protection, and unintentionally drive more animal purchases into unregulated channels—a trend that creates risk for both pets and families. Thank you for considering the significant real‑world impacts this proposal would create for responsible pet stores and the communities we serve. I welcome the opportunity to provide additional insight based on practical experience in animal care and retail operations. Sincerely, Amanda Fredal, LVT Director of Pet Care Pet Supplies Plus afredal@petsuppliesplus.com

Please see attached.

On behalf of the responsible pet care community, we ask that you vote NO on House Bill 1238 which would allow local municipalities to enact their own regulations, restrictions and bans on any pet store that sells animals.

I have owned an aviary in Fairfax County for about 20 years. I have worked very hard over the years to make this a well respected establishment where our birds are given the best care possible. This is my lively hood and this bill is very scary. Please take into consideration that there are many people out there in the pet industry that are passionate about what they are doing and truly want what’s best for the animals.

The American Kennel Club opposes legislation that has the potential to limit the ability of residents to select pets in a responsible manner, based on the breed, health and temperament traits that they seek and make a good match for their lifestyle. Local residents may be wanting a quality purpose-bred pet and may not have access to a local breeder. Instead, they may wish to purchase a dog from a regulated, licensed pet store where they can still get the consumer protections, the health history, and ongoing professional relationships they desire. The attachment addresses how pet store bans run counter to consumer choice.

Mr. Chair and Members of the Committee, The members and supporters of the Virginia Animal Owners Alliance urge you to reject HB 1238. This bill is part of a targeted attack on legal small businesses and is completely unwarranted. The code already has extensive parameters in place for local ordinances to include permits, records, and both criminal and civil penalties. Pet stores selling dogs and cats are also already licensed, regulated, and inspected through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This is a clear effort to suffocate and eliminate the family pet store. How do we know this? HB 1238 wants to allow a restriction on the way pet stores acquire animals and the way they market them. If businesses lose the freedom to operate and showcase what they have to offer, they will die. Can you imagine a legislative effort to put these same restrictions on a shelter or rescue? There would rightly be public outrage! This is a very un-American concept. Legislators have expressed concern over the number of unwanted animals in shelters and rescues, but did you know these groups have their own “puppy pipeline” into Virginia? There is a high demand for dogs in the Commonwealth. Shelters and rescues have brought 59,479 dogs into Virginia from out of State from 2020 - 2024 according to VDACS. It has been reported over the years that dogs have been imported into Virginia from Thailand, China, Korea, Russia, Peru, Greece, Kuwait, and Iran. It is also popular to bring in dogs from the US territory of Puerto Rico. These dogs can present significant health issues according to the CDC. Delegate Shin stated in February 2024 that “PETA Day” is one of her favorite days during session and had her photo taken with PETA’s lobbyist. This extreme group is against pet ownership. Ingrid Newkirk has called it an “absolutely abysmal situation” and stated “In the end, I think it would be lovely if we stopped this whole notion of pets altogether.” According to PETA, a responsible breeder does not exist and they want to see an end to pet shops. In August 2025, PETA praised West Hollywood for banning the sale of rabbits, amphibians, arachnids, birds, fish, reptiles and hermit crabs. The city had already banned the sale of dogs and cats in 2010. Does Delegate Shin want to see a “pet prohibition” in Virginia as well? This is not what citizens want! If you have a heart for animals, consider the wonderful breeds of dogs and cats that share our homes with all of their unique qualities and rich histories. HB 1238 is another step towards their elimination. As pet stores disappear and responsible breeders are eradicated, each breed will become harder to find and more difficult to preserve.  Pet stores and responsible breeders are important and should be supported by animal lovers—including our representatives in the Virginia General Assembly! Citizens should be free to choose their lifestyle and that includes what kind of pet or pets they want in their home. PLEASE DON’T ALLOW THE PROHIBITION OF OUR PETS AND PET STORES. Vote against HB 1238. Sincerely, Heidi Crosky, Virginia Animal Owners Alliance

I grew up running dogs for chase my entire life - some of my best life memories are in the woods hearing that sweet sound of a pack of Hounds. Today , I realize times have changed ,but please don’t punish up Good ol boys - who don’t have all the amenities of more urban areas . Hunting with dogs is a way of life for us - opening day , you see men , women , and children meeting for the hunt , excited to hear a race . You take the dogs away , you take millions in revenue away from Va . There will simply not be the amount of hunters , licenses will decline , rural stores will see a decline from hunters stopping by . It’s a Ripple effect of revenue lost - on top of taking ourheritage away !

I strongly advise you to oppose SB1396. Thank you.

We oppose bills Sb471 Sb770 Hb1396 It is a virgina heritage I have been hunting with my dogs ever since I could walk, and I want my nephews and my kids to enjoy the thangs that brought me so much joy and gave me something to look forward to every year these dogs are not just hunting dogs they are our pets and a part of my family please oppose these bills so my kids and grandkids can enjoy what I have and so many others have for generations.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

HB 1396 I think we are past the time in which dogs are needed to hunt. It's dangerous for land owners and promotes animal cruelty. I have plenty of horror stories i can share as well as a potential animal neglect tip i can share with you regarding a possible hunting organization.