As used in this article:

1. 1. "Animal" means a dog or a cat.
2. 2. "Consumer" means any individual purchasing an animal from a pet dealer. A pet dealer shall not be considered a consumer.

3. 3. For purposes of section seven hundred fifty-three of this article, a "pet dealer" shall mean any person who, in the ordinary course of business, engages in the sale or offering for sale of more than nine animals per year for profit to the public. Such definition shall include breeders of animals who sell or offer for sale animals directly to a consumer but it shall not include any retail pet shop as defined in subdivision eight of this section, any municipal pound or shelter established and maintained pursuant to subdivision one of section one hundred fourteen of the agriculture and markets law and duly licensed as an animal shelter pursuant to article twenty-six-C of the agriculture and markets law, or any duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated humane society, duly incorporated animal protective association or other duly incorporated animal adoption or animal rescue organization that is tax exempt pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of section 501 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501, or any subsequent corresponding sections of the federal Internal Revenue Code, as from time to time amended, that duly licensed as an animal shelter pursuant to article twenty-six-C of the agriculture and markets law. For purposes of sections seven hundred fifty-three-a, seven hundred fifty-three-b, seven hundred fifty-three-c and seven hundred fifty-three-d of this article, "pet dealer" shall mean any person who engages in the sale or offering for sale of more than nine animals per year for profit to the public. Such definition shall include breeders who sell animals; but it shall not include the following:

   1. (a) Any breeder who sells or offers to sell directly to the consumer fewer than twenty-five animals per year that are born and raised on the breeders residential premises.
   2. (b) Any municipal pound or shelter established and maintained pursuant to subdivision one of section one hundred fourteen of the agriculture and markets law and duly licensed as an animal shelter pursuant to article twenty-six-C of the agriculture and markets law.
   3. (c) Any duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated humane society, duly incorporated animal protective association or other duly incorporated animal adoption or animal rescue organization that is exempt from taxes pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of section 501 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501, or any subsequent corresponding sections of the federal Internal Revenue Code, as from time to time amended, that is duly licensed as an animal shelter pursuant to article twenty-six-C of the agriculture and markets law.
   4. (d) Any retail pet shop as defined in subdivision eight of this section.
4. 4. "Commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of agriculture and markets.
5. 5. "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, municipality, or other legal entity.
6. 6. "Nonelective surgical procedure" means a surgical procedure that is necessary to preserve or restore the health of an animal, to prevent an animal from experiencing pain or discomfort, or to correct a condition that would interfere with an animal's ability to walk, run, jump, or otherwise function in a normal manner.
7. 7. "Clinically ill" means an illness that is apparent to a veterinarian based on observation, examination, or testing of an animal or upon review of the medical records relating to the animal.
8. 8. "Retail pet shop" means any for-profit place of business that sells or offers for sale animals to be kept as household pets, pet food or supplies, but shall not include breeders who sell or offer to sell directly to the consumer animals that are born and raised on the breeder's residential premises.