(a) Every breeder of dogs shall deliver to each purchaser of a dog a written disclosure containing all of the following:
(1) The breeder’s name and address. If the breeder is a dealer licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture, the federal dealer identification number shall also be indicated.
(2) The date of the dog’s birth and the date the breeder received the dog. If the dog is not advertised or sold as purebred, registered, or registerable, the date of birth may be approximated if not known by the breeder.
(3) The breed, sex, color, and identifying marks at the time of sale, if any. If the dog is from a United States Department of Agriculture licensed source, the individual identifying tag, tattoo, or collar number for that animal. If the breed is unknown or mixed, the record shall so indicate.
(4) If the dog is being sold as being capable of registration, the names and registration numbers of the sire and dam, and the litter number, if known.
(5) A record of inoculations and worming treatments administered, if any, to the dog as of the time of sale, including dates of administration and the type of vaccine or worming treatment.
(6) A record of any veterinarian treatment or medication received by the dog while in the possession of the breeder and either of the following:
(A) A statement, signed by the breeder at the time of sale, that:
(i) The dog has no known disease or illness.
(ii) The dog has no known congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the dog at the time of the sale or that is likely to adversely affect the health of the dog in the future.
(B) A record of any known disease, illness, or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the dog at the time of sale, or that is likely to affect the health of the dog in the future, along with a statement signed by a veterinarian licensed in the State of California that authorizes the sale of the dog, recommends necessary treatment, if any, and verifies that the disease, illness, or condition does not require hospitalization or nonelective surgical procedures, nor is it likely to require hospitalization or nonelective surgical procedures in the future. A veterinarian statement is not required for intestinal or external parasites unless their presence makes the dog clinically ill or is likely to make the dog clinically ill. The statement shall be valid for seven days following examination of the dog by the veterinarian.
(b) The written disclosure made pursuant to this section shall be signed by both the breeder certifying the accuracy of the statement, and by the purchaser of the dog acknowledging receipt of the statement.
(c) In addition, all medical information required to be disclosed pursuant to this section shall be made orally by the breeder to the purchaser.
(d) For purposes of this article, a disease, illness, or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the dog at the time of sale, or is likely to adversely affect the health of the dog in the future, shall be one that is apparent at the time of sale or that should have been known by the breeder from the history of veterinary treatment disclosed pursuant to this section.
(e) For the purpose of this article, “nonelective surgical procedure” means a surgical procedure that is necessary to preserve or restore the health of the dog, to prevent the dog from experiencing pain or discomfort, or to correct a condition that would otherwise interfere with the dog’s ability to walk, run, jump, or otherwise function in a normal manner.
(f) For the purposes of this article, “clinically ill” means an illness that is apparent to a veterinarian based on observation, examination, or testing of the dog, or upon a review of the medical records relating to the dog.
(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 1996.)