SECTION 35:55-7-2. Pet health history provided to recipient; sale of unhealthy pets

(a)   At the time of the sale or other transfer, commercial pet breeders and animal shelter operators shall provide to recipients of pets a written disclosure of all treatments involving immunizations, medications, anthelmintics (dewormers) and all other treatments for parasites, administered to the purchased pet thirty (30) days prior to the sale. The disclosure shall describe the pet and describe the product used, the dosage, and the medication or product administered to the animal.

(b)   Commercial pet breeders and animal shelter operators shall not knowingly sell a diseased or sick pet without fully disclosing the pet's condition to the recipient.

(c)   At the time they offer a pet for sale, commercial pet breeders shall disclose to the purchaser whether the offered animal has any known diseases, defects, or health conditions.

(1)   If, within ten (10) days after receipt of a pet by the purchaser, a veterinarian states, in writing, that the pet has an undisclosed health problem or disease which existed in the animal at the time of delivery, or if within one year after receipt of the animal by the purchaser, a veterinarian states, in writing, that the pet has died or is ill due to an undisclosed hereditary or congenital defect, or is not of the breed type represented, the pet shall be considered to have been unfit for sale at the time of sale.

(A)   If the animal died, the purchaser shall provide necropsy and lab results to the commercial pet breeder.

(B)   If the animal is ill, the commercial pet breeder may request an additional veterinary examination by a veterinarian in the vicinity of the purchaser selected by the commercial pet breeder.

(C)   If the animal is not of the breed type represented, the purchaser shall provide DNA analysis verifying the determination.

(2)   A purchaser shall be entitled to return to the commercial pet breeder a pet that was unfit for sale and obtain full reimbursement of the purchase price, except that if the unfit pet has died within one year of delivery the purchaser may obtain a reimbursement of the purchase price without returning the pet upon providing proof that the pet has died.

(3)   For purposes of cost reimbursement under this subsection, purchaser shall also include the consumer who ultimately purchases the pet if the commercial pet breeder sells the pet to an intermediary or retailer if consumer obtains a veterinary statement indicating that the pet had pre-existing health problems, as described in subsection (c), and if the commercial pet breeder failed to disclose the pre-existing health problems to the intermediary that purchased the pet from the commercial pet breeder. In such case, recovery would be limited to the price paid to the commercial pet breeder. Commercial pet breeders shall not be liable to consumers if they disclose pre-existing health problems to the intermediary or retailer that ultimately sells the pet to the consumer.

[Source: Added at 29 Ok Reg 1747, eff 6-21-12 (emergency) - see Editor’s Note at beginning of Chapter; Added at 30 Ok Reg 829, eff 7-1-13; Amended at 31 Ok Reg 749, eff 9-12-14]