SB1639 Summary

• Pet shop operators must provide customers with written disclosures prior to sale, including retail price, breed information, inoculation details, breeder name and license number, and the pet shop operator's license number.

• Customers may obtain remedies (refund, exchange, or veterinary fee reimbursement up to 2 times the purchase price if the animal dies) if a licensed veterinarian certifies within 21 days that the dog or cat was unfit for purchase due to illness or disease, or within one year that it has a congenital or hereditary condition requiring hospitalization or surgery.

• Pet shop operators must notify the Department immediately upon discovering distemper, parvovirus, or other contagious life-threatening diseases and must notify customers in writing within 2 business days of a quarantine if they purchased an animal in the 2-week period prior to the outbreak.

• Customers are not entitled to remedies if illness or death resulted from maltreatment, neglect, injury after delivery, or illness contracted after delivery, or if the customer fails to follow veterinary treatment recommendations.

• Pet shop operators may contest remedies by requesting a second veterinarian examination; if parties cannot agree within 10 business days, the dispute may proceed to court or binding arbitration with potential attorney's fees for bad faith claims.