Lemon Law Attorney
Inspectors check area pet shops
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A state agricultural inspector paid a surprise visit to the AA Pets & Feed store Thursday. The visit was part of an operation this week by 10 inspectors in eight area counties. Their mission was to check the health records of the pets to see if the animals were checked by veterinarians as required by state law. “We have not found any violations as of yet,” said John Court, the agricultural department’s district supervisor. And AA Pets was no exception. Tom Johnson, owner of AA Pets for the past 14 years, said he didn’t mind the inspection. He also didn’t mind coverage of the inspection by several news photographers and reporters who tagged along. He said AA Pets has its veterinarian visit once every two weeks to check on the animals and update their health certificates. “We go by the law,” he said. The news coverage will help dispel a perception that pet shops may be selling infected animals, he said. He cited bad publicity about several other shops that have come under investigation in recent years. “It reflects on everybody that sells pets,” Johnson said. “A lot of people don’t understand the animals do get inspected,” he added. “People are cautious about pet stores. But when you buy a puppy from ‘Joe Schmoe’ who ran an ad in the paper, there’s no guarantee whatsoever.” Pet shops are required to abide by a state law unofficially dubbed the “pet lemon law.” The law gives consumers who buy dogs or cats from a pet dealer several options for recourse if their veterinarian certifies they purchased an animal with an illness or parasites. The owner can return the animal for a refund, exchange the animal for another of equal value or receive reimbursement for veterinarian expenses. The law also requires that pet dealers maintain health records for the dogs and cats they offer for sale. The paperwork includes 30-day health certificates. The documents, which must be signed by a veterinarian, certify that the animal has been given required shots and is in good health. Normally, Court’s staff works to check livestock and small animals at auctions, fairs and boarding and training facilities in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota, Hendry, Glades, Lee and Collier counties. Pet shop inspections are routinely conducted at holiday time because demand for puppies and kittens goes up, Court said. The inspection program was beefed up after a “monkey pox scare” several years ago, he said. Officials were concerned that pet prairie dogs had contracted the illness. Johnson said he often counsels families not to buy puppies or kittens until after the holidays. The stress of house guests and celebrations can keep owners from devoting enough attention to the little creatures. “We try our best to educate people,” he said. His sales increase immediately after the holidays, he said. |
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