New York Consolidated Laws, General Business Law - GBS § 391-t. Sale of small animals; instructions on care

1. As used in this section, a “small animal” shall mean any small mammal, excluding dogs or cats, including but not limited to, hamsters, chinchillas, guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, mice, rats, ferrets and any small amphibians or reptiles, including but not limited to frogs, snakes and lizards, but shall not include any small animals that are expressly sold for the purpose of feeding other animals.

2. As used in this section, a “retailer” shall mean any person who conducts a business of selling or offering for sale small animals at retail for profit to the public.

3. Every retailer that sells small animals to the public, shall, at the time of sale, deliver or provide digital access to the purchaser of a small animal, written care recommendations for the class of small animal being purchased, which recommendations shall: (a) include generally accepted information intended for an inexperienced pet owner on housing, equipment, sanitation, environment, feeding and watering, handling, and veterinary care; and (b) have been created or published by a reliable source including but not limited to: a state or national professional veterinary association; an association established for the preservation and care of any such small animal; or an association representing pet retailers.

4. All retailers that sell small animals to the public shall maintain a copy of the written care recommendations for each class of small animal they sell, which shall be available for inspection by the department of agriculture and markets.