A. A person shall not act, offer to act, or hold himself or herself out as a commercial pet breeder or operate an animal shelter in this state unless the person holds a license obtained pursuant to the Commercial Pet Breeders and Animal Shelter Licensing Act for each facility that the person owns or operates in this state.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to act as a commercial pet breeder licensee, or operate as an animal shelter licensee, or to hold himself or herself out as such, unless the person shall have been licensed to do so under the Commercial Pet Breeders and Animal Shelter Licensing Act.

C. An applicant for an animal shelter or commercial pet breeder license shall meet the criteria established by the State Board of Agriculture through rules promulgated pursuant to the Commercial Pet Breeders and Animal Shelter Licensing Act.

D. Any animal shelter operator or commercial pet breeder that applies for an animal shelter or commercial pet breeder license no later than September 1, 2013, shall not be required to meet any cage-size requirement more stringent than United States Department of Agriculture standards. Regardless of license application date, any animal shelter operator or commercial pet breeder replacing or adding cages after September 1, 2013, shall meet the cage-size requirements as of the date of replacement or addition.