1. 1.

   1. a. A commercial establishment shall provide for a standard of care that ensures that an animal in its possession or under its control is not lacking any of the following:

      1. (1) Adequate feed, adequate water, housing facilities, sanitary control, or grooming practices, if such lack causes adverse health or suffering.
      2. (2) Veterinary care.
   2. b. A commercial establishment, other than a research facility or pet shop, shall provide for the standard of care for dogs and cats in its possession or under its control, and a research facility or pet shop shall provide for the standard of care for vertebrate animals in its possession or under its control.

2. 2.

   1. a. Except as provided in paragraph “b”, a commercial establishment shall comply with rules that the department adopts to implement subsection 1. A commercial establishment shall be regulated under this paragraph “a” unless the person is a permittee as provided in paragraph “b”.
   2. b. A permittee is not required to comply with rules that the department adopts to implement a standard of care as provided in subsection 1 for state licensees and registrants. The department may adopt rules regulating a standard of care for a permittee, so long as the rules are not more restrictive than required for a permittee under the Animal Welfare Act. However, the department may adopt prescriptive rules relating to the standard of care. Regardless of whether the department adopts such rules, a permittee meets the standard of care required in subsection 1 if it voluntarily complies with rules applicable to state licensees or registrants. A finding by the United States department of agriculture that a permittee complies with the Animal Welfare Act is not conclusive when determining that the permittee provides a standard of care required in subsection 1.
3. 3. A commercial establishment fails to provide for a standard of care as provided in subsection 1 if the commercial establishment commits abuse as described in section 717B.2, neglect as described in section 717B.3, or torture as provided in section 717B.3A.

2010 Acts, ch 1030, §15, 29; 2024 Acts, ch 1177, §19

Referred to in §162.10C, 162.11, 162.12A, 162.13, 717B.2, 717B.3, 717B.3A