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So, you got your puppy or kitty and now you suspect that the pet store or breeder was not the wonderful, quality-of-life previous home you were told it was. Perhaps your puppy or kitten became ill very soon after they came to live with you. Or, you noticed that even after an initial adjustment, the animal was not relaxed, friendly, or playful. You are concerned. Unfortunately, you did your research after the fact of purchasing the pet. So, what can you do?
First, take your new pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Be sure to save all records and receipts. Next, put together as much information as possible to support your case including:
* Name, address and phone number of breeder or pet store where you purchased your pet
* Copies of your veterinary bills
* Copies of your purchase agreements or bill of sale
* Copies of any registration papers given to you at sale
* Photographs or other documentation of your animal’s medical conditions
* A necropsy report from a veterinarian, if the animal has passed away
* A brief timeline of events
Now you are in a position to contact the breeder or pet store where you purchased the dog. Decide beforehand what you want. Do you want your money back? Are you willing to return the animal? Do you want coverage for the medical bills?
If you feel a law has been broken, contact your state Attorney General's office. You may also choose to complete a Breeder Complaint Form available from the Humane Society United States. For specific advice on how to handle your particular case, consult a local attorney or consider going to small claims court. Finally, you may be able to use a Puppy Lemon Law.
Puppy Lemon Laws have become more common as pet stores become more common. Puppy Lemon Laws give dog purchasers the right to return a sick or dead puppy for a refund or replacement. Most also give consumers the option of retaining the puppy, having it treated and getting some level of reimbursement for veterinary expenses from the seller.
At the time of this writing, the states that currently have puppy or kitten lemon laws include: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont.
To determine if your state or country has some form of puppy lemon law - and what your rights are under such a law - do a search at Google similar to this: "california puppy lemon laws".
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