All over the country, pet stores are increasingly being frequented by consumers. People are enticed into buying pets from stores, especially when they see how cute the pets are in their little cages. However, there are many cases where, upon bringing home the pet, the owner discovers that it is weak or has an inborn sickness. Thanks to the pet lemon laws, it is now possible to take the pet back to the store for a replacement.
Pet lemon laws are pieces of legislation that protect the consumer rights of people who buy defective pets from stores. Because of the unnatural and often crowded environment where the pets are being raised, most store-bought pets end up contracting illnesses from each other.
If you find that you have bought an infected pet, or if your pet died, you may return it to the store within two weeks to get a replacement or a refund, according to most pet lemon laws. In the case of inborn sickness, pet lemon laws allow the owner to bring the pet back after 12 months.
Pet lemon laws will give you some time to restore your pet's health. You have to care for your pet, but the pet lemon laws mandate that all veterinary expenses are to be shouldered by the pet store owner. There is, however, a maximum amount that the seller has to bear, and the exact amount varies with each state's pet lemon laws.
Pet lemon laws explicitly list several conditions that are not covered by the law. For example, if you have been informed of the pet's illness at the time that you bought it, you will not be qualified to file claims under the pet lemon law.
Moreover, worms and other parasites are not covered by the pet lemon laws, as these are not considered to be a critical condition. Pet lemon laws also do not cover injuries sustained by the pet due to maltreatment or abuse. Illnesses acquired because of an owner's negligence are also not covered by the pet lemon laws.
Pet lemon laws are fairly new, and right now, there are less than 20 states that have pet lemon laws. Further, most of these states only have pet lemon laws that apply to dogs. The pet lemon laws in each state vary quite a bit so you have to be familiar with the pet lemon laws in your particular state.
The best way to avoid ending up with a sick pet is to ask the store owner to tell you everything you need to know about the pet before you buy it, particularly its past illnesses. Since there are many sellers who do not give this information, you really should be familiar with pet lemon laws in your area.
