{"data":{"id":"us-de/6-del.-c.-4001a","jurisdiction":"us-de","citation":"6 Del. C. § 4001A","heading":"Definitions [Effective Jan. 23, 2027].","body":"For purposes of this chapter:\n(1) “Animal rescue” means a nonprofit organization that is tax exempt under the United States Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) as amended, whose mission and practice is the rescue and placement of animals into permanent homes. An “animal rescue” does not include an organization that obtains animals from breeders or brokers for compensation.\n(2) “Animal shelter” means a public or private facility which includes a physical structure that provides temporary or permanent shelter to stray, abandoned, abused, or owner-surrendered animals and is operated, owned, or maintained by an incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, or other nonprofit organization for the purpose of providing for and promoting the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals. “Animal shelter” does not mean individuals providing temporary foster care to animals in their home or animal rescue groups sheltering animals on an individual’s private property.\n(3) “Breeder” means any person who breeds and raises dogs or cats to sell, exchange, or otherwise transfer to the public. A “breeder” does not include an individual who sells a single litter of puppies or kittens or any part of a single litter during a calendar year. A “breeder” does not include an animal shelter, or animal rescue.\n(4) “Broker” means a person, firm, corporation, or organization who transfers dogs or cats for resale by another person to be sold as household pets.\n(5) “Consumer” means any person purchasing a dog or cat not for the purpose of resale.\n(6) a. “Retail pet store” means any premises where domestic animals, to be kept as household pets, are sold, or offered or maintained for sale, on a retail basis. “Retail pet store” includes flea markets, farmer’s markets, and any temporary or permanent structures where domestic animals, to be kept as household pets, are sold or auctioned off for profit.\nb. “Retail pet store” does not mean any of the following:\n1. A premises that keeps, sells, or offers for sale domestic animals to be kept as household pets that are produced and raised on such premises and are sold, offered, or maintained for sale directly to a consumer, by a person who resides on such premises.\n2. A premises that sells only a single litter of puppies or kittens or any part of a single litter during a calendar year.\n3. An animal shelter or animal rescue.","path":["Title 6. Commerce and Trade","Subtitle II. Other Laws Relating to Commerce and Trade","Chapter 40A. Retail Pet Stores [Effective Jan. 23, 2027]."],"source_url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title6/title6.pdf","current_through":"2026-10-01 (85 Del. Laws, c. 550)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-10-21T05:48:50Z","sha256":"a17ebf2f891a310d3c1f72570cac28e50b3d0a8cde143ff80f84819659549df7","source_id":"us-de","stale":false,"prev":"us-de/6-del.-c.-4011","next":"us-de/6-del.-c.-4002a"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}