PA
The PA Federation of Dogs Clubs has been working for more than 6 years to get this proposal enacted, but has met stiff opposition from organized commercial kennels. Many compromises were made including the length of time that problems can be found, and the fact that the proposal applies only to licensed kennels. This allows uneducated backyard breeders off the hook despite their contributions to the problem of ill-bred puppies.
Pros: brings accountability to a state with far more than its share of commercial kennels (i.e. puppy mills).
Cons: time limit to find hereditary or congenital problems too short, made necessary by political power of commercial kennels.
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Applies to: licensed kennels (anyone handling more than 26 dogs in a year is required to be licensed).·
Contagious or Infectious Disease: 10 days·
Congenital or Hereditary Defects: 30 days·
Failure to Produced Advertised Registration Papers: within 120 days or refund 50% of purchase price·
Replacement: yes·
Refund: yes, excluding sales tax·
Reimbursement of Veterinary Expenses to Treat Dog: yes, up to the purchase price of the dog excluding sales tax
This Law should apply to anyone who sells a puppy, but many backyard breeders that sell dogs through the classifieds are unaware of their responsibilities. Minnesota pure-bred dog clubs are trying to educate the public of their rights and obligations under this Law. It is interesting to note that this Law pertains to cats also.
Pros: applies to all sellers of puppies, including back yard breeders.
Cons: back yard breeders are unaware of their obligations and do not make buyers aware of their rights.
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Applies to: pet dealers (any person, firm, etc., including breeders, that are required to collect state sales tax for the sale of animals to the public).·
Contagious or Infectious Disease: 10 days·
Congenital or Hereditary Defects: 1 year·
Failure to Produced Advertised Registration Papers: within 90 days, otherwise keep the animal and receive a refund 50% of purchase price, or return the animal for a full refund.·
Replacement: yes·
Refund: yes·
Reimbursement of Veterinary Expenses to Treat Dog: yes, up to the purchase price of the animal
This Law also applies to both cats and dogs, and stipulates registration of pet stores. Kennels are defined in a way that includes most hobby breeders therefore the law does not apply to them.
Pros: targeted at commercial establishments, so it does not effect hobby breeders
Cons: not all hobby breeders deserve to be unaffected.
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Applies to: retail pet stores (any room or group of rooms, run, cage, compartment, exhibition pen, or tether; excludes kennels).·
Contagious or Infectious Disease: 10 days·
Congenital or Hereditary Defects: 10 days·
Failure to Produced Advertised Registration Papers: no·
Replacement: no·
Refund: no·
Reimbursement of Veterinary Expenses to Treat Dog: yes, up to the purchase price of the dog
This Law applies to cats and dogs, and it stipulates vaccinations and examinations for animals prior to sale. The definition of a pet dealer in this Law is explicitly written so as to include active hobby breeders. One important thing to note is the provisions for replacement and refund. Consider the scenario where a puppy is purchased for $150 and has its hips evaluated within 1 year. The x-rays could run up to $150. If they turn up definite hip dysplasia, the seller may have to provide either a refund or replacement, plus cover the $150 for the x-rays.
Pros: longer period for finding congenital and hereditary defects.
Cons: obligation to pay for diagnostic testing may double sellers liability.
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Applies to: pet dealer (any one who sells more than 2 litters or 20 dogs per year, whichever is greater).·
Contagious or Infectious Disease: 14 days·
Congenital or Hereditary Defects: 1 year·
Failure to Produced Advertised Registration Papers: no·
Replacement: yes, plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses related to certifying the dogs illness up to the price of the dog.·
Refund: yes, plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses related to certifying the dogs illness up to the price of the dog.·
Reimbursement of Veterinary Expenses to Treat Dog: yes, up to the purchase price of the dog
This Law is very short and concise. The entire Act is on one sheet of paper. Unfortunately, this leaves some things open to interpretation, but it appears that this Law will not apply to most hobby breeders. As you can see by the following summary, this Law is not as far reaching as some of the others.
Pros: very concise and easy to understand; targeted at commercial stores.
Cons: does not allow for reimbursement if you want to keep the effected pet.
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Applies to: pet shop licensee.·
Contagious or Infectious Disease: 15 days·
Congenital or Hereditary Defects: 15 days·
Failure to Produced Advertised Registration Papers: no·
Replacement: yes·
Refund: yes·
Reimbursement of Veterinary Expenses to Treat Dog: no
This Law is the most hard on sellers of unhealthy dogs, but hobby breeders do not fall under its provisions except for the extremely active ones. As with the Florida Law, it is important to note that costs of testing to certify a dog unhealthy could double what a seller is obligated to refund to the purchaser. It is also important to note that this Law obligates the seller to cover 1½ times the purchase price of the dog in veterinary expenses should the purchaser elect to have the dog treated.
Pros: long period in which to find congenital or hereditary conditions
Cons: obligation to cover veterinary expenses above the purchase price of the dog may be considered punitive.
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Applies to: any one who sells more than 50 dogs per year.·
Contagious or Infectious Disease: 15 days·
Congenital or Hereditary Defects: 1 year·
Failure to Produced Advertised Registration Papers: yes, within 120 days, otherwise return dog for full refund or receive refund of 75% of purchase price if you keep the dog.·
Replacement: yes, plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses related to certifying the dogs illness up to the price of the dog including sales tax.·
Refund: yes, plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses related to certifying the dogs illness up to the price of the dog including sales tax.·
Reimbursement of Veterinary Expenses to Treat Dog: yes, up to 150% of the purchase price of the dog plus sales tax.