Bethlehem, PA Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Retail ban
- Pet shops cannot sell dogs, cats, rabbits (1159.19)
- Adoption exception
- No ownership interest, no fee to shop
- Sale penalty
- Not less than $500 per animal
- Sourcing ban
- Shelters barred from paying breeders/brokers (1159.20)
- Effective
- Ordinance 2024-1, passed 1/2/2024
Summary
Bethlehem pet shops cannot sell or offer for sale any dog, cat or rabbit under a 2024 ordinance amendment. Stores may still host animal shelters or rescue organizations for adoption events, but only if the shop has no ownership stake in the animals and charges no fee for the space.
It shall be unlawful for a pet shop to sell or offer for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit. ... The pet shop does not have an ownership interest in the animals offered; and ... the pet shop does not receive a fee for providing space for the adoption of an animal. ... A violation of this section is a summary offense punishable by a fine of not less than $500.00 per animal offered for sale in violation of this section.
Full Breakdown
02(Q) as any person or facility offering animals for retail sale as household pets, to sell or offer for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit. The section carves out a narrow adoption-partner exception: a pet shop may provide space to an animal shelter or animal rescue organization, whether located in Pennsylvania or elsewhere, to display dogs, cats or rabbits for adoption, provided the shelter or rescue follows the adoption procedures of Section 902-A of the state Dog Law, the pet shop holds no ownership interest in the animals, and the shop collects no fee for hosting the adoption space.
20, closes the supply side by making it unlawful for an animal shelter or rescue organization to obtain a dog, cat, or rabbit from a breeder or broker in exchange for payment, so a shelter cannot simply become a paid pass-through for commercially bred animals. 02(E) and (F) as anyone who maintains or transfers dogs, cats or rabbits for resale, closing the loophole a rebranded pet shop might try to use.
Violations & Fines
A pet shop that sells or offers to sell a dog, cat, or rabbit commits a summary offense under Section 1159.19(B), punishable by a fine of not less than $500.00 per animal offered for sale. A shelter or rescue that buys a dog, cat, or rabbit from a breeder or broker faces a separate summary offense under Section 1159.20(B), with a fine of not less than $250.00 per animal purchased.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any Bethlehem store sell puppies or kittens?
Can a pet store still work with a rescue group?
Can a shelter buy animals from a breeder to get around the ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bethlehem
Compare Bethlehem to another location·View the Pennsylvania animal ordinances overview
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