|
Warning: State’s Pet Law Requires Health Certificate With All Sales
The arrest of a Central Florida woman on multiple felony charges for allegedly defrauding numerous customers who unknowingly purchased sick dogs and cats from her website brings a reminder that state law provides consumer protection from such unscrupulous dealers.
Under the state’s Pet Law, dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks of age when sold or offered for sale by a dealer and each animal must be accompanied by a Florida health certificate signed by a licensed and accredited veterinarian within the past 30 days documenting required vaccinations, tests and treatments for internal and external parasites.
In addition, the law requires a dealer to provide a purchaser with information on the buyer’s rights under the law, including the right to return, exchange or receive reimbursement for veterinary expenses if an animal is deemed unfit by a licensed veterinarian within 14 days of purchase.
Florida’s Division of Animal Industry takes complaints and investigates violations of the Pet Law, and consumers who have a question about or complaint under the law may call 1-800-HELPFLA (1-800-435-7352) or 850-410-0900.
According to investigators with the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE), Cheryl Lee Tyler, 50, of Deland, used various aliases and provided altered health certificates in selling often gravely ill dogs and cats to customers of her web site Tiny-Toyz.com.
Investigators claim that one consumer purchased a sick cat from Tyler and was forced to euthanize the animal. Another negotiated to purchase a female cat, and was shocked to learn that the animal was male and that the required health certificate was altered to disguise that fact. Yet another customer purchased three animals that were stricken with ringworm, feline herpes and injuries associated with close confinement, investigators said.
|
Front Page 
Page 3 People! 
