New Jersey's pet buyer protection laws cover anyone selling pets for profit, which in practice exempts only humane societies and pounds. It covers pet stores, kennels and breeders, including hobby breeders.
Pet buyers have 14 days to document that their pet has a contagious or infectious disease, 6 months to demonstrate a congenital or hereditary disease.
If the pet is ill or defective, the buyer has the right to either a replacement or a full refund plus, in both cases, full reimbursement of the cost of veterinary fees to certify that the dog was unfit for purchase.
If the buyer chooses to keep a dog that was unfit for purchase, he is eligible for reimbursement of veterinary costs up to the price of the dog.
The seller has 120 days to produce advertised registration papers. If he does not, the buyer may return the dog for a full refund or the buyer may keep the dog and receive a refund of 75 percent of the purchase price.
