Health Guarantee Information
Health Guarantee and Pet Purchaser Protection Acts
Talk to the breeder about their health assurances at pick-up, even if it’s an exciting day and the last thing on your mind right now. In the event of illness or accident, many breeders will have extra coverage, but be careful to be safe.
Within ten days of adopting your puppy, Mr. and Mrs. Hill advice that you schedule a visit with a licensed veterinarian. When you take your dog to the veterinarian, ask for any papers and make sure you have it with you. Remember that many states have laws protecting your purchase regardless of whether a vendor offers a health guarantee, so if your breeder doesn’t give one, keep that in mind.
Before, during, and after your purchase, you might wish to print off and preserve the technical paper close at hand due to Pet Purchaser Protection Acts (which we partially replicate below).
What Remedies Are Available to Me As a Purchaser?
You can seek protection under your state’s Health Guarantee laws if, within 30 days of purchase, a licensed veterinarian finds that your puppy has a congenital or hereditary concern that negatively affects his or her health, or if the puppy has died as a result of a congenital or hereditary defect.
You will be given a list of possible remedies after being determined to be qualified for one under a Pet Purchaser Protection Act. These may consist of, but are not restricted to:
Returning your puppy and receiving a complete refund
trading in your puppy for one of similar or lower worth, retaining the puppy, and getting paid for the reasonable veterinary care that goes along with it
Which Types of Sellers are Affected?
Breeders and individual dealers are also affected by the law amendment. In the past, pet shops were typically the only ones subject to these regulations. These days, the kind of seller also tends to differ from one state to the next.
