There are currently 20 states that have lemon laws that provide legal recourse to people who purchase animals from pet dealers, later found to have a disease or defect. The following chart lists key provisions of these lemon laws.
The amount of time that a purchaser has to make a claim ranges anywhere from 7 to 20 days for illness and disease and 10 days to 2 years for congenital or hereditary conditions.
Common remedies include replacement of the animal, a refund of the purchase price, and/or reimbursement of veterinary expenses, generally up to the purchase price of the animal.
| STATE |
AMOUNT OF TIME
REMEDY IS
AVAILABLE |
REMEDIES |
| Arizona |
15 days for illness, injury or defect
60 days for congenital or hereditary conditions
|
1. Return for reimbursement of purchase price
2. Replacement and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed the original purchase price of the animal
3. Retain the animal and receive reimbursement for veterinary bills not to exceed the purchase price |
| Arkansas |
10 days for illness, congenital malformation, contagious, or infectious disease |
1. Reimbursement of veterinary expenses to treat the dog up to the purchase price of the dog |
| California |
15 days for illness or disease
1 year for congenital or hereditary defects |
1. Replacement plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses related to diagnosis and treatment, up to the purchase price of the dog
2. Refund of purchase price plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses up to the purchase price of the dog
3. Reimbursement of veterinary expenses up to 150% of the purchase price of the dog
|
| Connecticut |
20 days for illness existing at the time of sale
6 months for congenital defects |
1. Replacement
2. Refund of the purchase price
3. Costs for services and medications provided by veterinarian to be reimbursed up to $500. |
| Delaware |
20 days for illness, disease or defect
2 years for congenital or hereditary conditions |
1. Return and refund of purchase price plus reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed the purchase price
2. Exchange and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed the purchase price
3. Retain the animal and receive reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed the purchase price |
| Florida |
14 days for illness, contagious or infectious disease
1 year for congenital or hereditary defects
1 year for misrepresentation of breed, sex, or health of animal |
1. Replacement plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses (directly related to examination and certification) up to the purchase price
2. Refund plus reimbursement for veterinary expenses (directly related to examination and certification) up to the purchase price
3. Reimbursement of veterinary expenses to treat the dog up to the purchase price of the dog |
| Maine |
10 days for health problems existing before purchase
1 year for hereditary or congenital defects |
If death occurs:
- replacement
- refund of purchase price
If the animal does not die:
- return for full refund of purchase price
- exchange
- retain and reimbursement for ½ of reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed ½ of the original purchase price
|
| Massachusetts |
14 days for disease or congenital disorder |
1. Replacement
2. Refund |
| Minnesota |
10 days for health problem
1 year for congenital or hereditary defects or misrepresentation of breed |
If death occurs:
- Replacement and reimbursement for reasonably veterinary fees up to the purchase price
- Refund of full purchase price
If the animal does not die:
- Replacement
- Refund of full purchase price
- Reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees up to the purchase price of the animal
|
| Nebraska |
The law requires a purchaser to have the pet examined by a licensed veterinarian within 7 business days after delivery of the animal
Remedy is available for:
7 days for serious health problems that the veterinarian believes existed at the time of delivery of the pet
15 months after the date of birth of the pet for serious health problems or if the animal has died from a serious health problem that existed at the time of delivery to the purchaser
Serious health problem means a congenital or hereditary defect or contagious disease that causes severe illness or death but does not include parvovirus if the diagnosis is made after the seven business day requirement or any other contagious disease that causes severe illness or death ten calendar days after delivery of the pet animal to the purchaser.
|
- A refund of the full purchase price upon return of the animal to the seller
- an exchange for a pet animal of purchaser's choice of equivalent value or
- Reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees, not to exceed the full purchase price
If the animal does not die:
- refund of the full purchase price or
- a pet of the purchaser's choice of equivalent value and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed one-half of the full purchase price of the pet animal
|
| Nevada |
10 days for illness, disease, terminal condition, or condition requiring immediate hospitalization or surgery |
1. Refund of purchase price
2. Exchange
3. Retain the animal and receive reimbursement in an amount not to exceed the purchase price of the pet, for expenses incurred for veterinary fees |
| New Hampshire |
14 days for disease |
1. Replacement within 2 business days of veterinary examination
2. Refund of full purchase price within 2 business days of veterinary examination |
| New Jersey |
14 days if animal becomes sick or dies of a non-congenital condition
6 months for congenital or hereditary defects |
If death occurs:
- Refund of purchase price of animal
- Replacement plus the cost of veterinary fees
If the animal does not die:
- Replacement plus the cost of veterinary fees
- Refund of purchase price plus the cost of veterinary fees
- Reimbursement of veterinary fees incurred and future veterinary fees to be incurred in attempting to cure the animal
|
| New York |
14 days for illness, contagious or infectious disease, or congenital malformation |
1. Replacement plus the cost of veterinary fees directly related to certification that animal is unfit for purchase
2. Refund plus the cost of veterinary fees directly related to certification that animal is unfit for purchase
3. Reimbursement of veterinary fees for curing or attempting to cure the animal, up to the purchase price |
| Oregon |
15 days if the purchaser has the dog examined by a veterinarian and
the examination reveals that the dog is diseased
One year if the purchaser has the dog examined by a veterinarian and the examination reveals that the dog has a congenital disorder that significantly limits the dog's quality of life.
In order to receive a remedy, the purchaser must notify the dealer within 4 days of the veterinary examination |
1. Refund
2. Replacement; or
3. Reimbursement of veterinary costs up to the purchase price of the animal |
| Pennsylvania |
10 days if the dog is clinically ill or dies from contagious or infectious disease or parasitic illness
30 days for congenital or hereditary defects |
1. Replacement
2. Refund of purchase price
3. Reimbursement of reasonable veterinary fees incurred in curing or attempting to cure the dog, up to the purchase price |
| Rhode Island |
20 days for illness, disease or other defect
2 years for congenital or hereditary condition |
1. Return for purchase price plus veterinary fees up to the purchase price
2. Exchange plus reimbursement of veterinary fees up to the purchase price
3.Retain the animal and receive reimbursement of veterinary fees up to the original purchase price |
| South Carolina |
14 days if certified unfit for purchase due to non-congenital cause or condition
6 months for congenital or hereditary disease |
If death occurs within 14 days of possession by purchaser:
- Refund
- Replacement plus reimbursement of veterinary fees incurred before death
If the animal does not die:
- Replacement plus the cost of veterinary fees up to 50% of the purchase price
- Refund plus the cost of veterinary fees up to 50% of the purchase price
- Reimbursement of veterinary fees up to 50% of the purchase price
|
| Vermont |
7 days for illness or contagious or infectious disease
1 year for congenital malformation or hereditary disease |
1. Replacement plus the cost of veterinary fees related to certification
2. Refund plus the cost of veterinary fees related to certification
3. Reimbursement of veterinary fees related to curing or attempting to cure the animal, up to the purchase price |
| Virginia |
10 days for contagious or infectious disease
10 days for congenital or hereditary disease |
1. Return the animal and receive refund of the purchase price
2. Exchange for another animal of equal value |
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