The Pet Lemon Law - Are we Covered in Our State? Many states now have a pet lemon law in place. These laws protect owners or consumers who have bought a sick animal. Customers can return the sick or dead animal to the place they bought it from for a refund or replacement. While these laws are protecting consumers, they do nothing to protect the animals. If you are looking to help a sick animal, you need to check the animal abuse laws in your state or town. A lot of the laws only cover adult dogs and puppies. To see what animals are covered by your local Dog Lemon Law you would need to either research the law on your own or consult an attorney who has handled cases similar to yours and knows what exactly the law includes. Some people grow attached to their pets very easily.
If, after bringing your pet home, you find it has an illness contracted at the store you bought it from, or if it was born with an illness, some laws allow for you to get your pet treatment at the expense of the store. There are limits to the amount that the store will have to pay for veterinary care of a pet they sold. Your local pet lemon law will determine if you can bill the seller for treatment and for how much. There are time limits that apply to the pet lemon law. If your pet is infected at the store, or dies, you can bring them back usually within two weeks for a refund or replacement. If the sickness is one they were born with, you usually have a full year in which you can have the animal replaced. Certain ailments and conditions are not covered by any pet lemon law.
Anything that occurs because of neglect on the part of the owner, conditions that were known about at the time of purchase, and worms or other parasites are not covered. You cannot take your pet home, let it get injured or infected there, and try to return it under the pet lemon law. Worms and parasites aren't covered because they are not considered deadly, and can be treated by your veterinarian. You can avoid buying a sick pet. First, make sure you know everything about the pet's history, especially their medical history. Avoid puppy mills and stores where the cages are overcrowded or dirty. You may feel sorry for that little fluffball sitting in its own filth but you will most likely end up with many problems if you take it home. Report the store to the proper authorities and find somewhere else to buy your pet.
