Pet Purchase & Breeder Contract Checklist
What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.
You're about to sign a contract to buy a puppy or other pet from a breeder or seller. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.
This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.
What a complete pet purchase contract states
The animal — breed, sex, date of birth, color, and any microchip or registration number.
Price and deposit — the total price, the deposit, and when the balance is due.
Deposit refund terms — the events under which the deposit is refunded, in writing.
Health terms — the duration and conditions of any health promise, and the remedy (refund or replacement).
Vet records — vaccinations, deworming, and vet visits documented at handoff.
Spay/neuter and breeding rights — any requirement to spay or neuter, or terms for breeding.
Return-to-breeder terms — what happens if you can't keep the animal.
What's commonly not stated
- Health remedy details — a replacement-only remedy may require returning the animal; the contract may not say so plainly.
- Vet exam deadline — many health terms require a vet exam within a short window; the deadline can be easy to miss.
- Conditions excluded — which conditions are excluded from health coverage is often unstated.
- Deposit refund events — whether the deposit comes back if the litter is smaller or the animal isn't available is often unclear.
None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.
Questions to ask before you sign
- “Under what conditions is the deposit refunded?”
- “How long is the health promise, and is the remedy a refund or a replacement?”
- “Do I need a vet exam by a certain date for the health terms to apply?”
- “What vet records will I receive at handoff?”
- “What happens if I can't keep the animal?”
Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?
Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.
Check my document →We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.
FAQ
How much should a puppy cost?
We don't price other people's animals — cost depends on the breed, the breeder, the region, and registration. What you can check is whether your contract states the price, the deposit refund terms, the health terms with their remedy, and the vet records you'll receive. If it doesn't, ask before paying.
What if something on this checklist is missing from my breeder contract?
Ask for it in writing before you pay. A missing deposit term or health remedy isn't a verdict on the breeder; it's an unknown in an agreement about a living animal. Getting it stated costs nothing and settles it before the deposit changes hands.
Can Spend Defense read my actual breeder contract?
Yes — that's the Quick Check. Send the document and you'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask, for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Most breeder contracts are a few pages, well within that limit.
Related checklists
- Personal Loan & Buy-Now-Pay-Later Agreement Checklist
- Boat & RV Purchase Paperwork Checklist
- Storage Unit Rental Agreement Checklist
Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.