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The Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA) supports reasonable laws and regulations intended to protect the pet-buying public in obtaining a sound dog. Breeders and/or sellers should provide buyers with a written contract prior to the sale which details the responsibilities of both the buyer and seller before and after the sale. This contract should clearly detail any exclusion to refunds, replacements or reimbursements. In addition, this contract should include factual history of the dog, its parents and all health clearances. Breeders and/or sellers should be responsible for providing certain refunds, replacements, or reimbursements should the dog sold become ill or die from a condition contracted prior to the purchase. Such remedies should be conditioned upon the buyer’s adherence to the care and feeding program prescribed by the breeder and/or seller, as well as a timely examination by a state licensed veterinarian.
GRCA supports the concept of pet lemon laws, also known as consumer protection laws, as long as they are enforceable and promote reasonable objectives and pre-sale consumer education. We believe that the public is better protected by lemon laws that educate consumers prior to the sale than by laws that attempt to protect customers from every conceivable possibility after the sale. This enables purchasers to distinguish, before they buy, between responsible breeders and careless breeders or sellers.
GRCA believes that buyers have a responsibility to discover the nature, genetic health issues, temperament, activity level, and the housing, exercise, and grooming needs, etc. of the breed they are purchasing. Information can be obtained through the websites of GRCA (www.GRCA.org), the American Kennel Club (www.AKC.org), and other resources.
February 2010
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