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New Law Forces Pet Stores To Share Health Details

Updated: 12/27/10 1:48 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM) - Starting in the new year, pet stores and animal shelters in Illinois will have to post more information about the dogs and cats they are selling or putting up for adoption.

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The Illinois Department of Agriculture says the new law, starting Jan. 1, 2011, will require that stores provide an animal's vaccination history and other details about its health.

Stores also will have to disclose the name of the breeder and his/her license number, as well as the animal's date of birth, breed, hereditary diseases and the reason a pet was returned.

State law already requires stores to give the information if a customer requests it, but this would be upfront and before the sale.

The law, however, makes allowances for animal shelters and animal control facilities that often don't know an animal's history.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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