There Ought To Be A Law

Depending upon where you live, there may be laws that serve to protect the financial interest of consumers who have purchased a sick puppy from a pet store or commercial breeder. Keep in mind: no puppy lemon law protects the puppy - these laws are for the consumer. In many cases, the laws are woefully inadequate and offer but a very brief period of time during which the consumer may file a claim or report the matter to the state's attorney general. 

In Pennsylvania, a PA Puppy Lemon Law does exist and, while far from perfect, it is a step in the right direction to hold commercial breeding operations accountable when seeking financial compensation after purchasing a sick puppy. 

One of the most important components of the Pennsylvania law is the following provision:

• If registerable, the seller shall provide at the time of sale: the breeder's name and address, the name and registration number of the dam and sire, and the name and address of the pedigree registry organization where the dam and sire are registered.
  

What does this mean and why is this important? 

First of all, if you are purchasing a puppy and ask where the puppy is from, the pet store aboslutely must tell you this information. Many pet stores will attempt to provide you with only partial information, such as a geographical location as the puppy's place of birth, because:

• they've already lied and told the consumer that they only work with reputable breeders; it is not unusual for pet store staff and the owner to tell consumers that 'the breeder doesn't want to be identified' OR 'the breeder doesn't want visitors at their home.'  These are typical tall tales told by unscrupulous pet stores - don't you believe or buy it! 
  

• they don't want to admit that they regularly purchase from a puppy mill or by way of a puppy mill broker

• they don't want to identify the puppy mill in the event you decide to do a little investigating and review the commercial breeder's last report card from the state's department of agriculture or the USDA.
  

In the second place, registering a dog is, in and of itself, a questionable practice.  Unless you are planning to show or breed the dog, the 'papers' you will receive are of absolutely no significance and may as well be used along with newspapers when housebreaking your new pet. 

Showing and/or breeding dogs are expensive lifestyles - not hobbies - and unless you're willing to make a serious time commitment and financial investment, registering a dog should hold little to no weight in your decision to own a dog.  For additional information about registering a dog, including some eye-opening facts about the AKC, read our Breed Registry section.

Across the nation, only 17 states have consumer laws on the books that offer consumer protection from pet stores or commercial breeders selling sick puppies:  Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia.  These laws vary dramatically from state to state and must be read carefully as they outline the steps and procedures you must follow in order to receive compensation.  That these laws even exist is a clear indication of the many problems associated with commercial breeders and the pet stores that sell their puppies. 

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