If your puppy is sick
Vermont law protects people who buy dogs, cats and wolf-hybrids from pet shops and pet dealers who sell 3 or more litters a year.
What you can ask for
- Return the puppy for a full refund, including sales tax and vet fees
- Exchange it plus vet costs
- Keep it and be reimbursed for vet fees, up to the purchase price
Minimum age to sell a puppy
Vermont has no state law that sets a minimum age to sell a puppy.
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 7 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 Vermont attorney general or file in small claims court.
Buying a puppy in Vermont
We list 52 dog breeders in Vermont, 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 Vermont have a puppy lemon law?
Yes. Vermont law (20 V.S.A. § 3921) protects people who buy dogs, cats and wolf-hybrids from pet shops and pet dealers who sell 3 or more litters a year. You have 7 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 Vermont?
7 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 pet shops and pet dealers who sell 3 or more litters a year.
How old does a puppy have to be to be sold in Vermont?
Vermont has no state law that sets a minimum age. Federal rules for licensed dealers set 8 weeks and weaned, and that is also what responsible breeders follow.
Does the Vermont lemon law cover private breeders?
It covers pet shops and pet dealers who sell 3 or more litters a year. A small hobby breeder may fall outside it, so ask for a written contract with a health guarantee whoever you buy from.