| The California Puppy Lemon Law, despite the | | | | the benefits of neutering and spaying pets. The |
| rather specific name, is not limited to small dogs | | | | purchaser must be given written material |
| alone. It covers cats as well as dogs, and there | | | | supporting this. The dealer should additionally offer |
| are no age-related parameters. The California | | | | incentives for such procedures. |
| Puppy Lemon Law basically pertains to the | | | | Further, the dealer must give documentation of |
| California Health and Safety Code. It specifically | | | | every animal's heritage - the name and address |
| concerns itself with a cat or dog's health at the | | | | of the breeder or broker. The purchaser must |
| time of purchase. | | | | also be given the animal's date of birth and a |
| In essence, California Codes Health And Safety | | | | vaccination/immunization/surgical record. The |
| Code Section 122125-122220 defines the term | | | | buyer is also supposed to receive a clear |
| 'pet dealer' of cats and dogs. Section 122125 | | | | statement of any disease that the animal is |
| states that this is a person who sells animals on a | | | | suffering from at the time of purchase. |
| retail basis. It also states that a dealer requires an | | | | Under California Puppy Lemon Law, the dealer is |
| official permit for such a business. Further sections | | | | legally liable if: |
| define that a 'purchaser' is any person who buys | | | | - The dealer has failed to maintain the specified |
| a pet from a dealer without intending to resell it. | | | | health standards. |
| A dealer is required to ensure that healthy animals | | | | - A licensed veterinarian states in writing that the |
| are kept separately from those that are sick. In | | | | animal fell sick within 15 days of purchase. |
| other words, there should be no doubt in a | | | | - A licensed veterinarian states in writing within a |
| purchaser's mind that the pet purchased is | | | | year of purchase that the animal has a congenital |
| healthy. | | | | or hereditary disease that requires extensive |
| The California Puppy Lemon Law further states | | | | hospitalization, and from which recovery is |
| that a seller must make a purchaser aware of | | | | doubtful. |