To many pet owners, dogs and cats are an extension of themselves and best friend.  Over 75% of dog owners consider their dogs as a child or family member and 50% of those with cats felt the same way.  According to American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), in a 2005 - 2006 National Pet Owners Survey, over 63 percent of all U.S. households own a pet.  That's over 69 million households, up from 64 million in 2002.  In total, there's approximately 90 million cats and 73 million dogs.  Clearly dogs and cats are an important part of American households.  Each year millions of kittens and puppies are purchased for enjoyment and companionship.  Most of the time the new pet is healthy and well cared for while at the pet shop.  There are occasions when this is not the case and a new puppy or kitten becomes ill when they are taken home.  For years there were no laws that protected the consumers when they purchased a lemon puppy.  Now there are seventeen states that have the Puppy Lemon Law.  The Puppy Lemon Law was established to help new pet owners get compensated in the rare occasion the puppy (dogs and cats) they purchase was previously ill or injured.  Below is a list the states that have a Puppy Lemon Law.

• Pet Sellers must give notice to purchasers the benefits of neutering and spaying pets (in writing)
• Dealers are required to keep healthy animals in a separate area from sick animals
• Dealers are required to provide the animal's birth of date and vaccination, immunization and surgical record.
• Dealers are required to give the buyer a clear statement of any diseases that the animal is suffering from at time of purchase
• Dealers are legally liable if they fail to maintain the required health standards
• Buyers must get a veterinarian's written statement that the animal became sick within 15 days of purchase.
• Buyers are also protected for 1 year from congenital or hereditary diseases that require extensive hospitalization.

• Within five business days of receipt, but prior to the sale of any dog, the pet dealer shall  have  a duly  licensed veterinarian conduct an examination and tests appropriate to the breed and  age  to  determine  if  the  animal  has  any  medical conditions apparent at the time of the examination that adversely affect the  health  of the animal. For animals eighteen months of age or older, such examination shall include a diagnosis of any congenital  conditions that  adversely  affect the health of the animal. Any animal found to be afflicted  with  a  contagious  disease  shall  be  treated  and   caged separately from healthy animals.
• All animals shall be inoculated as required by state or local law. Veterinary care appropriate to the species  shall  be  provided  without undue  delay  when  necessary. Each animal shall be observed each day by the  pet  dealer  or  by  a  person  working  under  the  pet   dealer's supervision.
• No  pet  dealer shall knowingly sell any animal eighteen months of age or older that has a diagnosed congenital  condition  that  adversely affects  the  health of the animal without first informing the consumer, in writing, of such condition.

Pennsylvania Puppy Lemon Law Summary

• Buyer receives either:  A health certificate issued by a veterinarian OR  Seller may issue a "Guarantee of Good Health"
• Guaranteed 10 days to be free of contagious or infectious diseases
• Guaranteed 30 days to be free of genetic or hereditary diseases
• Buyer must report the problem with two business days of Veterinarian diagnosing the problem.

Vermont Puppy Lemon Law Summary

If, within seven days following the sale of an animal, a veterinarian of the consumer's choosing certifies the animal to be unfit for purchase due to illness or the presence of signs of contagious or infectious disease, or within one year the veterinarian certifies the existence of congenital malformation or hereditary disease, the consumer may act under subdivision (1) of this subsection, or if mutually agreed upon, under subdivision (2) or (3) of this subsection. The consumer may have:

• the right to return the animal and receive a full refund of the purchase price, including sales tax, and reasonable veterinary fees related to certification under this section. A veterinary finding of intestinal parasites is not grounds for declaring an animal unfit, nor is an injury or illness sustained subsequent to the consumer taking possession of an animal;

• the right to return the animal and receive an exchange animal of the consumer's choice of equivalent value, and reasonable veterinary costs related to certification under this subsection;

• the right to retain the animal and receive reimbursement from the pet dealer for reasonable veterinary service for the purpose of curing or attempting to cure the animal. In no case shall this service exceed the purchase price of the animal. Value of service is reasonable if it compares to similar service rendered by other veterinarians in the area, but in no case may it cover costs not directly related to the certification of unfitness.

Virginia Puppy Lemon Law Summary

Arizona Puppy Lemon Law Summary

South Carolina Puppy Lemon Law Summary

Conneticut Puppy Lemon Law Summary

Delaware Puppy Lemon Law Summary

Florida  Puppy Lemon Law Summary

Maine Puppy Lemon Law Summary

Massachusetts Puppy Lemon Law Summary

Minnesota Puppy Lemon Law Summary

Nevada Puppy Lemon Law Summary

New Jersey Puppy Lemon Law Summary