By Jacque Day
Illinois – A new Illinois law designed to protect pet owners goes into effect the first of the year. The law requires pet stores, animal shelters and animal controls to disclose the following information on or near an animal's cage:
- Retail price, including additional charges
- Breed, age, date of birth, sex and color of the dog or cat
- Details of vaccinations and health history
- Name, address and identification number of the breeder
- Details of any inoculation or medical treatment received while at the facility
According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, pet stores are currently required to disclose this information if requested by the consumer. Currently, some pet stores do not share it until the final sale.