Vermont has a Puppy Lemon Law.. This protects the puppy buyer/puppy for 7
days for contagious or infectious disease. And 1 year for congenital
malformation or hereditary disease. If you do not receive a contract
that honors these minimums, know the law............§ 3921. Sale of a
cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid; restitution
(a) If, within seven days
following the sale of a cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid by a pet dealer or pet
shop, a licensed veterinarian of the consumer's choosing certifies the
cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid to be unfit for purchase due to illness or the
presence of signs of contagious or infectious disease or if 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 shall have the right:
(1)
to return the cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid to the pet dealer or pet shop 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
a cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid unfit, nor is an injury or illness sustained
subsequent to the consumer taking possession of a cat, dog, or
wolf-hybrid; or
(2) to return the cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid to
the pet dealer or pet shop and receive an exchange cat, dog, or
wolf-hybrid of the consumer's choice of equivalent value and reasonable
veterinary costs related to certification under this subsection; or
(3) to retain the cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid and receive reimbursement
from the pet dealer or pet shop for reasonable veterinary service for
the purpose of curing or attempting to cure the cat, dog, or
wolf-hybrid. In no case shall this service exceed the purchase price of
the cat, dog or wolf-hybrid. 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.
(b) The Secretary shall prescribe a
form for and the content of the certificate to be used under subsection
(a) of this section. The form shall include an identification of the
type of cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid, the owner, date and diagnosis, the
treatment recommended, if any, and an estimated cost of the treatment.
The form shall also include notice of the provisions of subsection (a)
of this section.
(c) Every pet dealer or pet shop who sells a
cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid to a consumer shall provide the consumer at the
time of sale with the written form prescribed by the Secretary. The
notice may be included in a written contract, a certificate of the
history of the cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid, or another separate document.
(d) The Secretary shall prescribe by rule other information which shall
be provided in writing by the pet dealer or pet shop to the consumer at
the time of sale. The information shall include a description of the
cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid, including breed and date of purchase; the
name, address, and telephone number of the consumer; and the purchase
price. Certification of this document occurs when signed by the pet
dealer or pet shop.
(e) Refund or reimbursement required under
subsection (a) of this section shall be made within ten business days
following receipt of the signed veterinary certification. The
certification shall be presented to the pet dealer or pet shop within
three business days by the consumer.
CREDIT(S)
2013, No. 30, § 6, eff. July 1, 2013.
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