Business ProfileforTeacup Fredi Maltese

On November 28, 2017, BBB has verified that the company is not registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State nor registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture as required by Pennsylvania law.  Also, the address used by the company at 519 Arthur Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 is not a valid address per property owners.

The Better Business Bureau offers the below advice when purchasing a dog or puppy in Pennsylvania to help protect the rights of not only the pet owner, but the pet themselves as well as the breeders and kennel owners entrusted with their care.

Pennsylvania's dog sellers and breeders must post a visible notice that informs consumers of their rights under the state's Dog Purchaser Protection Act, also known as the "Puppy Lemon Law".

· A seller shall provide you with a health record and breed registration information for the dog at the time of sale. The health record and breed registration must contain information as required by the Law.

· The seller shall provide a health certificate issued by a veterinarian within 21 days prior to the date of sale OR a guarantee of good health issued and signed by the seller. The health certificate and the guarantee of good health must contain information as required by the Law.

· To preserve your rights under the Law, you must take your newly purchased dog to a licensed veterinarian for examination within 10 days of purchase. If a veterinarian determines that your dog is clinically ill or has died from an injury sustained or illness likely to have been contracted on or before the date of sale and delivery, you have the following options: (a) Return the dog for a complete refund; (b) Return the dog for a replacement dog of equal value; OR (c) Retain the dog and receive reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees, not exceeding the purchase price. These options do not apply where a seller, who has provided a health certificate issued by a veterinarian, discloses in writing at the time of sale the health problem for which the buyer later seeks to return the dog.

· If, within 30 days of purchase, a licensed veterinarian determines that your dog has a congenital or hereditary defect which adversely affects the animal’s health or that your dog died from a congenital or hereditary defect, you have the same options as outlined above.

· Within 2 business days of a veterinarian’s certification of your dog’s illness, defect or death, you must notify the seller of the name, address and telephone number of the examining veterinarian. Failure to notify the seller within 2 business days will result in forfeiture of rights.

· Refunds or reimbursements shall be made no later than 14 days after the seller receives the veterinarian certification. Veterinarian certification shall be presented to the seller not later than 5 days after you receive it.

Under Pennsylvania Act 119 – Kennel Licensing, any person who keeps or operates a kennel shall, on or before January 1 of each year, apply to the department for a kennel license. A kennel is defined as any establishment in or through which at least 26 dogs are kept or transferred in a calendar year, or a boarding kennel.

· No dog under eight weeks of age may be sold, traded, bartered or transferred.

· It is illegal to mistreat or abuse any animal. Violations should be reported to a local humane organization, dog warden or the police.

· It is illegal to abandon or attempt to abandon any dog.

· Go online to search for a kennel inspection at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

· A kennel closing application must be submitted in order to close a licensed kennel/dealer followed up by a closing inspection to officially close the operation by a qualified dog warden.

To find out more information please refer to the Dog Purchaser Protection Act and Act 119-Kennel Licensing.  For further questions contact the Pennsylvania Dog Law Enforcement Office at 717.787.3062. We suggest that if you have a problem, file a complaint online at www.bbb.org, the PA Attorney General and the PA Dept. of Agriculture.