PUPPY AND CAT LEMON LAWS
I always try and address this subject, pet lemon laws, though it is a touchy one for some breeders, so that perspective families can try and understand just what is expected from the breeder when purchasing a new kitten for your family. It is very confusing to say the least. There are so many types of breeders (good and bad), a zillion contracts (good, bad and worse) and everything that goes between the two in addition to finding a breeder that has that perfect addition for your family.
Most states have what they call a "Puppy Lemon Law" that help protect buyers from getting stuck keeping and or treating a sick, diseased, unhealthy pet and may also help breeders be responsible for capped or uncapped reimbersable expenses to treat a new puppy/kitten upons purchase.
Each state has their own State passed laws that protect buyers and most states do have cats in reference in the law as well. I'll be posting the URL at the bottom of the page for your reference, just go to the site and scroll down to the state that you purchased your pet in.
All issues with any "puppy/kitten Lemon Law" are handled by the States Attorney General's Office. It has been my experience that they are very quick to follow up on any complaint and very thorough as well bringing the issues on the complaint to a quick conclusion if it fits within the laws of that particular state. Before I retired, I helped many families that came in with recently purchased sick pets, contact the state, fill out the paperwork and file a legitimate complaint. So please when buying a pet, have all your facts together and choose a good reputable breeder with a reasonable contract that provides security for both the buyer as well as the seller. It is not disrespectful or rude to ask your breeder to see the contract in advance so there are no surprises.
Actually some breeders don't have contracts at all, I can safely conclude that they are either puppy/kitten mills or back yard breeders. They don't put the safety or well being of the animal first by not having what the new family must do in order to purchase the kitten and probably don't have spaying/neutering contracts either. These are the types that don't have registration papers, health certificates, shot records, do have internal/external parasite with no testing or treatments and heaven only knows the types of conditions that they were bred and raised in... To Put it in a nutshell..... There is a simple handshake, money exchanged , and a wave good bye and that is probably the last the breeder hopes to see you. You have nothing to fall back on if something is wrong with your pet. Your buying your pet "as is".
A good reputable breeder with guarantee the health of your pet at the time of purchase, guarantee that your pet is parasite free, both internal and external (fleas, ticks, ear mites, intestinal worms), has a documented set of age appropriate vaccines, and health certificate. All of the above are spelled out in the contract.
Now we can visit the other side of the spectrum. These breeders have a very heavy duty contract that has tons of things they will not guarantee or be responsible for with little or nothing in the contract to safeguard the family who is buying the pet. These kinds of contracts mostly protect the Seller, with lists of all the things that they want to be protected against.
SOME EXAMPLES:
One of the most common things you will find in this type of contract is requiring you to have your pet's health checked by a vet in a very very short time frame.. I've seen some as little as 24 hours up to 3 days. So now lets say you've gone to pick up your little bundle of joy, and are so excited with holding your new kitten, that you could probably care less what the contract says, let alone listen to anything as the breeder is reading it to you.; you just sign it and head home. 5 hours later, now that your home and settled in; you finally decide to actually read your contract and with a few sighs your wondering what the heck you signed.. !!!!!!
One of the first big problems with that type of contract is unless you've made a vet appointment ahead of time, your not going to get in with 24 hours or 3 days, for that matter probably not for a good week. If you don't abide by the time frame in the contract, the breeder is telling you in the contract, in writing, that he will NOT be responsible for anything that is wrong with your new pet. ...... HOWEVER........ If your in a state that the state law says for example that you have "10" days from the date of purchase, I don't care what contract you've signed, a signed contract does NOT override the law. ...(you could also sign a contract that allows you to rob a bank legally within 3 days , now does that make sense.. does that contract over ride the law?????)
In addition, Some states require that any animal sold must have a document shot record as well as a Health certificate from the vet and or statement of good health from the breeder.
States may also have laws dictating the minimum age you can sell a young animal
Laws may dictate the time frame for the seller to give you your registration papers, if you didn't get them with the sale of your animal.
As your researching the specific breed that you want to add to your family, please take the time to research the state laws on animal sales so you know your rights. REMEMBER: Remember the law to follow is the state that you have purchased your pet in, NOT the state you live. Educate yourself !!!
CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST BY STATE OF PUPPY LEMON LAWS
Most states have what they call a "Puppy Lemon Law" that help protect buyers from getting stuck keeping and or treating a sick, diseased, unhealthy pet and may also help breeders be responsible for capped or uncapped reimbersable expenses to treat a new puppy/kitten upons purchase.
Each state has their own State passed laws that protect buyers and most states do have cats in reference in the law as well. I'll be posting the URL at the bottom of the page for your reference, just go to the site and scroll down to the state that you purchased your pet in.
All issues with any "puppy/kitten Lemon Law" are handled by the States Attorney General's Office. It has been my experience that they are very quick to follow up on any complaint and very thorough as well bringing the issues on the complaint to a quick conclusion if it fits within the laws of that particular state. Before I retired, I helped many families that came in with recently purchased sick pets, contact the state, fill out the paperwork and file a legitimate complaint. So please when buying a pet, have all your facts together and choose a good reputable breeder with a reasonable contract that provides security for both the buyer as well as the seller. It is not disrespectful or rude to ask your breeder to see the contract in advance so there are no surprises.
Actually some breeders don't have contracts at all, I can safely conclude that they are either puppy/kitten mills or back yard breeders. They don't put the safety or well being of the animal first by not having what the new family must do in order to purchase the kitten and probably don't have spaying/neutering contracts either. These are the types that don't have registration papers, health certificates, shot records, do have internal/external parasite with no testing or treatments and heaven only knows the types of conditions that they were bred and raised in... To Put it in a nutshell..... There is a simple handshake, money exchanged , and a wave good bye and that is probably the last the breeder hopes to see you. You have nothing to fall back on if something is wrong with your pet. Your buying your pet "as is".
A good reputable breeder with guarantee the health of your pet at the time of purchase, guarantee that your pet is parasite free, both internal and external (fleas, ticks, ear mites, intestinal worms), has a documented set of age appropriate vaccines, and health certificate. All of the above are spelled out in the contract.
Now we can visit the other side of the spectrum. These breeders have a very heavy duty contract that has tons of things they will not guarantee or be responsible for with little or nothing in the contract to safeguard the family who is buying the pet. These kinds of contracts mostly protect the Seller, with lists of all the things that they want to be protected against.
SOME EXAMPLES:
One of the most common things you will find in this type of contract is requiring you to have your pet's health checked by a vet in a very very short time frame.. I've seen some as little as 24 hours up to 3 days. So now lets say you've gone to pick up your little bundle of joy, and are so excited with holding your new kitten, that you could probably care less what the contract says, let alone listen to anything as the breeder is reading it to you.; you just sign it and head home. 5 hours later, now that your home and settled in; you finally decide to actually read your contract and with a few sighs your wondering what the heck you signed.. !!!!!!
One of the first big problems with that type of contract is unless you've made a vet appointment ahead of time, your not going to get in with 24 hours or 3 days, for that matter probably not for a good week. If you don't abide by the time frame in the contract, the breeder is telling you in the contract, in writing, that he will NOT be responsible for anything that is wrong with your new pet. ...... HOWEVER........ If your in a state that the state law says for example that you have "10" days from the date of purchase, I don't care what contract you've signed, a signed contract does NOT override the law. ...(you could also sign a contract that allows you to rob a bank legally within 3 days , now does that make sense.. does that contract over ride the law?????)
In addition, Some states require that any animal sold must have a document shot record as well as a Health certificate from the vet and or statement of good health from the breeder.
States may also have laws dictating the minimum age you can sell a young animal
Laws may dictate the time frame for the seller to give you your registration papers, if you didn't get them with the sale of your animal.
As your researching the specific breed that you want to add to your family, please take the time to research the state laws on animal sales so you know your rights. REMEMBER: Remember the law to follow is the state that you have purchased your pet in, NOT the state you live. Educate yourself !!!
CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST BY STATE OF PUPPY LEMON LAWS