House committee advances local-option bill allowing local regulation of pet shops after divided testimony

The House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee voted to report House Bill 12 38 as amended after extended testimony and debate over whether local governments should be allowed to regulate pet shop sales and enforcement.

Delegate Shen presented the bill as a permissive local-option measure that "allows localities to adopt an ordinance that best works for their communities," saying it responds to gaps in enforcement and gives local officials flexibility. Supporters included Daphne Akhmadovich of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who told the committee the bill "is strictly a local option" and urged members to vote yes, and Cheryl Crow of Humane World for Animals, who said HB 12 38 would let local elected officials address "animal cruelty and deceptive sales practices." The witnesses emphasized local control and cited other states and localities that have limited or banned pet-shop sales.

Opponents included representatives of the American Federation of Agriculture and family-owned pet stores. Louis Waskey, identifying himself as president of the American Federation of Agriculture, said the bill risks pushing animal sales into unregulated online channels such as Facebook and Craigslist. Amanda Friedel, a pet-store operator and licensed veterinary technician, said allowing each locality to create its own licensing and sales rules "will result in a confusing patchwork of regulations" that could be difficult to administer, and asked that regulation remain at the state level.

During committee discussion members raised enforcement and resource concerns, including the capacity of local animal-control agencies and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to handle complaints and inspections. The committee first voted by voice to continue the bill to the 2027 session; members then moved to reconsider that action and instead report HB 12 38 as amended, adding a reenactment clause. The final recorded vote to report the bill as amended was 11 to 8.

The bill, as presented to the committee, is permissive—localities would gain the authority to adopt ordinances but would not be required to do so. The committee did not adopt a statewide ban or a model regulatory scheme; instead the measure preserves local discretion while supporters said it would permit stronger local enforcement where jurisdictions choose to act. The committee listed further written testimony in the record; no final effective date was set during the meeting.

The committee's next procedural step is to transmit the reported bill and its amendments to the House for further consideration.