Puppy "Lemon Laws" in Pennsylvania help protect consumers.
The Puppy Lemon Law, enacted in Pennsylvania in 1997, is a consumer protection measure covering the purchase of dogs from breeders. Backyard breeders and puppy mills are rampant in Pennsylvania, and not all breeders act in the best interest of the dogs. For some breeders, the dogs represent nothing more than a dollar amount. These breeders produce and sell as many puppies as possible with little regard to health and safety.
Seller Responsibility
At the time of purchase, the breeder must provide the buyer with two health-related documents. These include a health record for the puppy as well as a health certificate from a veterinarian. The health certificate must be dated no more than 21 days prior to the date of sale. In lieu of the veterinary health certificate, the seller can provide a guarantee of good health.
If the seller advertised that the dogs are registered with the American Kennel Club or other pedigree registry organization, he must produce the registration papers within 120 days of the date of sale.
Buyer Responsibility
To receive compensation for a puppy with a contagious or infectious disease, the puppy must be diagnosed by a veterinarian within 10 days of purchase. The buyer has 30 days in which to determine if there is a congenital disease or defect in the dog. The buyer must then notify the seller within two days of the diagnosis to receive compensation.
Compensation
If a puppy dies or is diagnosed with a disease or defect within the limited time period, the buyer can choose from several compensation options. The buyer can return the dog to receive a full refund of the purchase price, exchange the dog for another puppy of equal monetary value or keep the dog and be reimbursed for veterinary bills and medical expenses up to the original purchase price.
If the seller does not provide registration papers within 120 days of the sale, the buyer can return the puppy for a full refund or keep the puppy and receive a refund totaling half the original purchase price.
Not Covered
The puppy lemon law does not cover issues such as behavior problems. Behavior problems are common in dogs produced in a large-scale breeding facility because the puppies did not receive adequate human interaction during the crucial formative period of four to eight weeks of age.
The Pennsylvania law only applies to kennels handling more than 26 dogs per year. It does not extend to dogs purchased from retail pet shops, even though most of these dogs are obtained through puppy mills or large-scale backyard breeding operations.
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