Bought a Sick Puppy or Pet? Your Consumer Rights (UK)

Discovering that a new puppy, kitten, or pet is seriously ill is heartbreaking — and often the result of poor or illegal breeding. If you bought from a business seller, you have real consumer rights. Here is what you can do. (This covers your consumer rights; always get a sick animal to a vet first.)

Pets bought from a business are "goods" in law

When you buy an animal from a business seller (a breeder operating as a business, a pet shop, a dealer), the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies — the animal must be of satisfactory quality and as described. A pet that is seriously ill at the point of sale, or not the breed/health represented, can mean you are entitled to a repair (treatment), replacement, or refund.

Lucy's Law and licensing

Under Lucy's Law in England, puppies and kittens must generally be sold by the breeder who raised them, from where they were bred — not by third-party dealers. Sellers usually need a licence. A seller who breaches these rules, hides the breeding conditions, or uses fake paperwork is acting unlawfully, which strengthens your position and should be reported.

Your remedies

• Within 30 days: a short-term right to reject for a refund if the animal was not of satisfactory quality at sale.
• Vet costs: you can claim reasonable veterinary treatment costs caused by a pre-existing illness.
• Many buyers, understandably, keep the pet and claim the vet bills and a price reduction rather than "return" it.

How to act

1. Get a vet's assessment documenting the illness and whether it was likely present at sale.
2. Keep all paperwork — advert, receipts, any health/vaccination claims, microchip details.
3. Write to the seller setting out the breach and your claim (vet costs and/or refund).
4. Report unlicensed or illegal sellers to your council's licensing/Trading Standards team.

A complaint letter template

Dear [Seller],

Re: [Pet] purchased on [date]

The animal was seriously ill at the point of sale [vet report enclosed] and/or
not as described. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 I am entitled to [a refund /
the reasonable vet costs of £[amount] and a price reduction].

Please respond within 14 days. I am also reporting the sale to the council's
licensing team if the legal requirements were not met.

Yours faithfully,
[Your name and contact details]

Always see the pet with its mother, check licensing, and get a vet check fast. If a business sold you a sick animal, the Consumer Rights Act lets you claim vet costs or a refund — and illegal sellers should be reported.