With the passage in 2015 of the New Jersey Pet Purchase Protection Act, New Jersey pet stores became the most highly regulated in the country. Coalition store members worked with lawmakers, animal welfare advocates and other interested parties from around the state to carefully craft legislation with strict mandates for sourcing and consumer protection, yet fosters a cooperative atmosphere for small businesses to thrive.
The Pet Purchase Protection Acts mandates, in part, the following:
- New Jersey Pet Stores source their puppies ONLY from USDA licensed and inspected breeders with perfect or near perfect inspection reports
- New Jersey Consumers who purchase a puppy who may become sick or be discovered to have a congenital disease are protected financially. It provides that such a puppy be a.) returned for a full refund + vet costs, b) be returned for a healthy puppy + vet costs or c.) be treated for such condition for twice the amount of the purchase price of the puppy.
- New Jersey Pet Stores must provide full disclosure of all breeder information, including name, address, USDA license number and state license number (if applicable), as well as for any brokers used.
- New Jersey Pet Stores must have all USDA inspection reports available in the store for consumers to see.
- New Jersey Pet Stores must vet-check new puppies upon arrival and have them re-checked every 14 days while in our care.
- New Jersey Pet Stores must keep puppies up to date on all vaccinations while in our care.
THESE PROTECTIONS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PUPPIES PURCHASED AT NJ PET STORES. NO OTHER SOURCE IN THE STATE REQUIRES SUCH SAFEGUARDS.
Further, Coalition of Responsible Pet Store members visit breeders each year, work with each other and field representatives to ensure breeder quality and foster close professional relationships with breeders and brokers to maintain a high quality puppy experience for the consumer, while ensuring breeder dogs are treated humanely and kept in a healthy environment.