Puppy Lemon Laws

Currently, Shih Tzu are one of the 20 most popular breeds. As the internet expands 
and pet shops in malls become more and more commonplace, a demand for puppies has 
created an industry that has more than it share of problems. Puppy Lemon Laws are an effort to address some of these problems. 


Currently, 21 states have passed legislation to protect dog purchasers. Several other states have Puppy Lemon Laws under consideration. All the states with Lemon Laws in place, give the purchaser the right to return a sick or dead puppy for a refund or replacement. Many of the states give the consumer the option to keep the puppy, pay for the necessary treatment, and then receive some level of reimbursement for veterinary expenses from the seller. 


Read the law in your state: AZ, ARCACT, DEFL, IL, ME, MAMN, NE, NV, NHNJ, NYOR,PA, RISCVTVA


HELPFUL TIPS

 
 Don't buy a puppy from a pet shop. Don't buy a puppy from a kennel that advertises available puppies on a year around basis. Buy your pet from a reputable breeder. If you don't know a breeder, the AKC can provide you with pure breed Shih Tzu clubs in your area. 
 

The AKC is aware of the Puppy Lemon Laws. However, the American Kennel Club is a registry of pure bred dogs, not a enforcer of state legislation. The AKC will sympathize with your problem, but will not help you reach a resolution unless the problem involves AKC registration.
 

If you purchase a puppy out-of-state, even if your state and the state where the animal was purchased have Lemon Laws in place, it is nearly impossible to get a replacement puppy or financial reimbursement across state lines.


Last updated June 2014

Note that state consumer protection and law enforcement agencies have the authority to interpret and enforce provisions of state pet purchase protection laws. 

If you have a question about how a particular state pet purchase protection law applies to individual circumstances, please contact that state agency

STATE AMOUNT OF TIME
REMEDY IS
AVAILABLE
REMEDIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


15 days for illness, injury or defect

60 days for congenital or hereditary conditions
1. Return for reimbursement of purchase price

2. Replacement and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed the original purchase price of the animal

3. Retain the animal and receive reimbursement for veterinary bills not to exceed the purchase price
10 days for illness, congenital malformation, contagious, or infectious disease 1. Reimbursement of veterinary expenses to treat the dog up to the purchase price of the dog
California
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15 days for illness or disease

1 year for congenital or hereditary defects
1. Replacement plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses related to diagnosis and treatment, up to the purchase price of the dog

2. Refund of purchase price plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses up to the purchase price of the dog

3. Reimbursement of veterinary expenses up to 150% of the purchase price of the dog
Connecticut
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20 days for illness existing at the time of sale

6 months for congenital defects
1. Reimbursement of the value of the actual services and medications provided to such dog or cat by a veterinarian for the treatment of such illness or congenital defect.  Reimbursement shall not exceed (I) the full purchase price of such dog or cat for any dog or cat purchased for five hundred dollars or more, and (II) five hundred dollars for any dog or cat purchased for less than five hundred dollars.

2.  Replacement

3.  Refund of full purchase price
Delaware
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20 days for illness, disease or defect

2 years for congenital or hereditary conditions
1. Return and refund of purchase price plus reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed the purchase price

2. Exchange and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed the purchase price

3. Retain the animal and receive reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed the purchase price
Florida
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14 days for illness, contagious or infectious disease

1 year for congenital or hereditary defects

1 year for misrepresentation of breed, sex, or health of animal
1. Replacement plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses (directly related to examination and certification) up to the purchase price

2. Refund plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses (directly related to examination and certification) up to the purchase price

3. Reimbursement of veterinary expenses to treat the dog up to the purchase price of the dog
Illinois
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
​21 days due to:

 

(A) illness or disease, the presence of symptoms of a contagious or infectious disease, or obvious signs of severe parasitism that are extreme enough to influence the general health of the animal, excluding fleas or ticks

 (B) the dog or cat has died from a disease that existed in the dog or cat on or before the date of delivery to the customer

 One year due to:

 congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the dog or cat or requires either hospitalization or a non-elective surgical procedure or has died of a congenital or hereditary condition. Internal or external parasites may not be considered to adversely affect the health of the dog unless the presence of the parasites makes the dog or cat clinically ill


​1.  Return the dog or cat to the pet shop for a full refund of the purchase price;

 

 2.  Exchange the dog or cat for another dog or cat of comparable value chosen by the customer;

 3.  Retain the dog or cat and be reimbursed for reasonable veterinary fees for diagnosis and treatment of the dog or cat, not to exceed the purchase price of the dog or cat; or

4.  ​If the dog or cat is deceased, be reimbursed for the full purchase price of the dog or cat plus reasonable veterinary fees associated with the diagnosis and treatment of the dog or cat, not to exceed 2 times the purchase price of the dog or cat

 

​**Please note this law applies only to purchases from pet shops**

Maine
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 days for health problems existing before purchase

1 year for hereditary or congenital defects
If death occurs:
  1. replacement
  2. refund of purchase price
If the animal does not die:
  1. return for full refund of purchase price
  2. exchange
  3. retain and reimbursement for ½ of reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed ½ of the original purchase price
Massachusetts 14 days for disease or congenital disorder 1. Replacement

2. Refund
Minnesota
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 days for health problem

1 year for congenital or hereditary defects or misrepresentation of breed
If death occurs:
  1. Replacement and reimbursement for reasonably veterinary fees up to the purchase price
  2. Refund of full purchase price
If the animal does not die:
  1. Replacement

  2. Refund of full purchase price

  3. Reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees up to the purchase price of the animal
Nebraska
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The law requires a purchaser to have the pet examined by a licensed veterinarian within 7 business days after delivery of the animal

Remedy is available for:

7 days for serious health problems that the veterinarian believes existed at the time of delivery of the pet

15 months after the date of birth of the pet for serious health problems or if the animal has died from a serious health problem that existed at the time of delivery to the purchaser

Serious health problem means a congenital or hereditary defect or contagious disease that causes severe illness or death but does not include parvovirus if the diagnosis is made after the seven business day requirement or any other contagious disease that causes severe illness or death ten calendar days after delivery of the pet animal to the purchaser.
  1. A refund of the full purchase price upon return of the animal to the seller
  2. an exchange for a pet animal of purchaser's choice of equivalent value or
  3. Reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees, not to exceed the full purchase price
If the animal does not die:
  1. refund of the full purchase price or
  2. a pet of the purchaser's choice of equivalent value and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed one-half of the full purchase price of the pet animal
Nevada
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 days for illness, disease, terminal condition, or condition requiring immediate hospitalization or surgery 1. Refund of purchase price

2. Exchange

3. Retain the animal and receive reimbursement in an amount not to exceed the purchase price of the pet, for expenses incurred for veterinary fees
New Hampshire
 
 
 
 
14 days for disease 1. Replacement within 2 business days of veterinary examination

2. Refund of full purchase price within 2 business days of veterinary examination
New Jersey
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14 days if animal becomes sick or dies of a non-congenital condition

6 months for congenital or hereditary defects
If death occurs:
  1. Refund of purchase price of animal

  2. Replacement plus the cost of veterinary fees
If the animal does not die:
  1. Replacement plus the cost of veterinary fees

  2. Refund of purchase price plus the cost of veterinary fees

  3. Reimbursement of veterinary fees incurred and future veterinary fees to be incurred in attempting to cure the animal
New York
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

14 days for illness, contagious or infectious disease

180 days  if a licensed veterinarian certifies  such animal to be unfit for purchase due to a congenital malformation which adversely affects the health of the animal​

1. Replacement plus the cost of veterinary fees directly related to certification that animal is unfit for purchase

2. Right to return the animal and receive an exchange animal of  the consumer's choice of equivalent value and reasonable veterinary costs directly related to the veterinarian's certification  that  the animal is unfit for purchase

3. Reimbursement of veterinary fees for curing or attempting to cure the animal, up to the purchase price
Oregon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15 days if the purchaser has the dog examined by a veterinarian and the examination reveals that the dog is diseased

One year if the purchaser has the dog examined by a veterinarian and the examination reveals that the dog has a congenital disorder that significantly limits the dog's quality of life.

In order to receive a remedy, the purchaser must notify the dealer within 4 days of the veterinary examination
1. Refund

2. Replacement; or

3. Reimbursement of veterinary costs up to the purchase price of the animal
Pennsylvania
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 days if the dog is clinically ill or dies from contagious or infectious disease or parasitic illness

30 days for congenital or hereditary defects
1. Replacement

2. Refund of purchase price

3. Reimbursement of reasonable veterinary fees incurred in curing or attempting to cure the dog, up to the purchase price
Rhode Island
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20 days for illness, disease or other defect

2 years for congenital or hereditary condition
1. Return for purchase price plus veterinary fees up to the purchase price

2. Exchange plus reimbursement of veterinary fees up to the purchase price

3.Retain the animal and receive reimbursement of veterinary fees up to the original purchase price
South Carolina
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14 days if certified unfit for purchase due to non-congenital cause or condition

6 months for congenital or hereditary disease
If death occurs within 14 days of possession by purchaser:
  1. Refund

  2. Replacement plus reimbursement of veterinary fees incurred before death
If the animal does not die:
  1. Replacement plus the cost of veterinary fees up to 50% of the purchase price

  2. Refund plus the cost of veterinary fees up to 50% of the purchase price

  3. Reimbursement of veterinary fees up to 50% of the purchase price
Vermont
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7 days for illness or contagious or infectious disease

1 year for congenital malformation or hereditary disease
1.  Return with a full refund including tax and reasonable veterinary fees. 

2.  Return and exchange for an animal of equivalent value and reimbursement of reasonable veterinary costs

3.  Reimbursement of veterinary fees related to curing or attempting to cure the animal, up to the purchase price
Virginia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

10 days for contagious or infectious disease

10 days for congenital or hereditary disease

 

14 days for parvovirus

1. The right to return the animal or, in the case of an animal that has died, to present the veterinary certification, within three business days of certification and receive a refund of the purchase price including sales tax; or 

2. The right to return the animal or, in the case of an animal that has died, to present the veterinary certification, within three business days of certification and to receive an exchange animal of equivalent value from the dealer, subject to the choice of the consumer.; or

3. In the case of an animal purchased from a pet shop or a USDA licensed dealer, the right to retain the animal and to receive the reimbursement of veterinary fees in an amount up to the purchase price of the animal, including sales tax and the cost of the veterinary certification, incurred up to the time the consumer notifies the pet dealer of the intent to keep the animal. Such notification shall occur within three business days of certification. Veterinary costs incurred by the consumer after such notification shall be the responsibility of the consumer.


Source:   Staff research, AVMA State Legislative and Regulatory Department
Contact:   State Policy Analyst, AVMA State Legislative and Regulatory Department