If your puppy is sick
California law protects people who buy dogs from dog breeders and pet dealers.
What you can ask for
- Return the puppy for a refund plus vet fees
- Exchange it plus vet fees
- Keep it plus vet fees, up to 150% of the purchase price (up to the purchase price for the other options)
Minimum age to sell a puppy
In California a puppy must be at least 8 weeks old to be sold.
Federal Animal Welfare Act rules (9 C.F.R. § 2.130) bar licensed dealers from shipping puppies under 8 weeks old that are not weaned, in every state.
What to do if you bought a sick puppy
- Take the puppy to a veterinarian right away and ask for the diagnosis in writing, within 15 days of the sale.
- Tell the seller in writing, with a copy of the veterinarian's statement, and keep proof that you sent it.
- Choose what you want: a refund, an exchange or keeping the puppy with the vet costs paid, as far as the law allows.
- Keep everything: the contract, the ad, messages, receipts and vet records.
- If the seller refuses, contact the consumer protection office of the California attorney general or file in small claims court.
Buying a puppy in California
We list 863 dog breeders in California, with phone, website, public reviews and a map.
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Laws change and have exceptions: read the statute or ask the consumer protection office of your state attorney general before you act.
Summary based on the state statutes as listed by the Animal Legal & Historical Center of Michigan State University College of Law (purchaser protection laws as of 2023, minimum sale age as of 2025).
Questions
Does California have a puppy lemon law?
Yes. California law (Cal. Health & Safety Code § 122070 (breeders) and § 122160 (pet dealers)) protects people who buy dogs from dog breeders and pet dealers. You have 15 days after the sale to have a veterinarian certify an illness, and 1 year for a congenital or hereditary defect.
How long do I have to return a sick puppy in California?
15 days from the sale for an illness or disease, and 1 year for a congenital or hereditary defect. A veterinarian has to examine the puppy and put the problem in writing within that time, and the law only covers sales by dog breeders and pet dealers.
How old does a puppy have to be to be sold in California?
At least 8 weeks. The rule applies to any person who sells a puppy, and pet dealers (Cal. Penal Code § 597z; Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 122045 to 122315).
Does the California lemon law cover private breeders?
It covers dog breeders and pet dealers. A small hobby breeder may fall outside it, so ask for a written contract with a health guarantee whoever you buy from.