(a) No live animal shall be used as a fund-raising device or award in a contest, lottery, game, or promotion by any person or entity other than at an event recognized by an agricultural or sporting association. An alternative cash prize shall be offered. A person or entity shall not transfer or award an animal without reasonable assurance that the person receiving the animal will provide proper transportation and adequate care.

(b) No live fowl, turtles, or rabbits under eight weeks of age in lots of less than six shall be offered for sale or sold, displayed, or given away.

(c) No dog, puppy, cat, or kitten shall be offered for sale, sold, displayed, or given away on the side of any highway, as defined in 19 V.S.A. § 1, except by the owner or lessor of the abutting land. It shall be an affirmative defense under this subsection that a transaction involving a sale or giving away of a dog, puppy, cat, or kitten was previously arranged by the parties, and the sale or giving away on the side of the highway was only for the convenient transfer of the animal.

(d) A person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of not more than $250.00. (Added 1989, No. 270 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1997, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 2001, No. 98 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 8, 2002.)