The Dog Purchaser Protection Act
The Puppy Lemon Law - Act 27 of 1997
Summary of the Law
 
Who Must Comply? Owners of USDA and PA state licensed kennels & pet shops who sell to the public.  "Non-profit" kennels (shelters) are exempted.
Buyer receives either: 
A health certificate issued by a veterinarian OR 
Seller may issue a "Guarantee of Good Health"		 Health Certificate must be issued within 21 days of sale. 
"Guarantee" must state dog is healthy on the date of sale & be signed by both seller & buyer.
Information about dog provided to the Buyer
  1. Date of birth, sex , color & markings
  2. List & date of vaccinations
  3. Record of any known health problems & treatments
  4. Date & type of any parasitical  medications
  5. Name, address & signature of seller
  6. The health record, signed by both seller & buyer
Length of time for Guarantee for contagious or infectious diseases 10 days
Length of time for Guarantee for genetic or hereditary diseases 30 days
Options for Buyer if dog becomes sick or dies in days allotted
  1. Return do for refund of purchase price
  2. Exchange dog for another
  3. Keep dog and receive vet costs up to the purchase price, provided the dog can be cured.
Buyer's Veterinarian must issue a "Certification of Illness" for seller which shall include:
  1. Purchaser's name & address
  2. Date dog was examined
  3. Breed & age of dog
  4. Condition that made it "unfit"
  5. Precise Findings
  6. Treatment recommended & cost estimate, if owner keeps dog
Buyer must notify seller of vet's examination Within 2 business days of exam
Seller shall give refund, replacement or reimbursement Within 14 days
Seller may contest findings & have dog checked by own vet Unless hospitalized, buyer must take dog to seller's vet for exam within 2 business days
Sellers of "Registered" dogs to supply certain information
  1. Breeder's name & address
  2. Name & registration number of sire & dam of puppy
  3. Name & address of the pedigree registry organization
  4. Registration documentation must be provided within 120 days.  Time may be extended if spaying or neutering is a requirement of purchase price.
If seller fails to proved registration documentation, purchaser may elect one:
  1. Return dog & Receivea full refund of purchase price
  2. Retain dog and receive refund equal to half of the purchase price
Guarantee information Must be posted at place of business & given to buyer at time of sale.
Enforcement agencies Office of Attorney General
Penalties for violations or for donducting business without proper license Up to $1000 for each violation
 These health guarantees apply when the purchaser's veterinarian declares that the newly purchased dog is "Unfit for Purchase"
"Unfit for Purchase" means any disease, deformity, injury, physical condition, illness or any defect which is congenital or hereditary and which severely affects the health of the animal or which was manifest, capable of diagnosis or likely to have been contracted on or before the sale and delivery of the animal to the consumer.

Source: http://www.paonline.com/PFDC/act27s.htm Downloaded 11.20.00.