---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2137"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2137"
heading: "Purchase of dogs or cats by research facilities prohibited except from authorized operators of auction sales and licensed dealers or exhibitors"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2137"
units:
  - "Chapter 54 — Transportation, Sale, and Handling of Certain Animals"
---

# §2137. Purchase of dogs or cats by research facilities prohibited except from authorized operators of auction sales and licensed dealers or exhibitors


It shall be unlawful for any [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) to purchase any dog or cat from any [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) except an operator of an auction sale subject to [section 2142 of this title](/usc/7/2142.md) or a [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) holding a valid license as a [dealer](/usc/7/2132.md?p=f) or [exhibitor](/usc/7/2132.md?p=h) issued by the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) pursuant to this chapter unless such [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) is exempted from obtaining such license under [section 2133 of this title](/usc/7/2133.md).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–544, § 7, Aug. 24, 1966, 80 Stat. 351; Pub. L. 91–579, § 8, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1561.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1970—Pub. L. 91–579 added licensed exhibitors and operators of auction sales subject to section 2142 of this title to the enumeration of persons from whom research facilities may purchase dogs or cats.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–579 effective one year after Dec. 24, 1970, see section 23 of Pub. L. 91–579, set out as a note under section 2131 of this title.