Connecticut Lemon Laws for Pets

Requirements
Connecticut pet owners must have a veterinarian diagnose the dog or cat with a qualifying medical condition or illness. Note every medical condition is apparent early within ownership so the time frame will vary depending upon the condition itself. New pet owners have twenty days to have a vet examine the animal for an illness or disease while up to six months for the diagnosis of a congenital disease. It is assumed that a conscientious pet owner will have regular check-ups for the new dog or cat.

Illness
An illness, disease, congenital defect, long term injury must pose a significant amount of discomfort to the animal or even be life threatening. The quality of life must suffer and the cat or dog must require a significant amount of effort, time and/or money to maintain its life.

Responsible Party
Pet sellers are generally held responsible for selling an animal who possessed an illness or serious medical condition that was not disclosed by the time of purchase.

Compensation
A Connecticut resident may choose to refund, replace, or keep the cat or dog. They may also claim reimbursement of veterinarian care in the amount of up to five hundred dollars if the purchase price was less than five hundred dollars. If however the animal cost more than five hundred dollars to buy, consumers may claim the full purchase price in veterinarian bill reimbursement. In either case, these reimbursements are in addition to any refund or exchange and may be claimed if the pet owner decides to keep the animal.