Terms and Conditions of Commitment

(For puppies purchased on or after 9.1.2022)

Before bringing a puppy home, PuppySpot Group, LLC (“PuppySpot”) wants you to know that owning a puppy means frequent visits to a veterinarian and that you will be responsible for all costs associated with such veterinarian visits.

At PuppySpot, we do everything we can to make sure your puppy is as healthy as possible when s/he arrives, but puppies are living breathing animals which means health issues do arise from time to time. Our health issue commitment as provided below is contingent on you buying a pet insurance policy on your puppy for the entire first six months of his/her life

1. 1. What is our commitment?  

      Before your puppy comes home he or she has undergone an extensive veterinary health check and his/her breeder has followed our vaccination and deworming protocols. This commitment covers health issues that may arise after the arrival of your puppy. This commitment only covers puppies who are delivered and have continually resided within the United States and/or Canada.

      1. Days 1-14: If, within 14 days of arrival, your puppy is found to have a contagious disease, illness, or parasite, PuppySpot will provide you with reimbursement of reasonable and customary veterinary bills to treat such condition up to the purchase price of your puppy upon presentation to PuppySpot of such bills within 21 days of the arrival of your puppy. This subsection 1 does not require that you have any pet insurance.
      2. Year 1: If within one year from the date of arrival from PuppySpot, your dog is found and certified by two duly licensed doctors of veterinary medicine (any reference herein to a “veterinarian” shall be assumed to mean a “licensed doctor of veterinary medicine”) of your choosing to have a congenital or hereditary condition which adversely affects the health of the dog in any material respect, and you notify PuppySpot in writing of such condition within five business days of the first veterinarian’s determination of the condition, PuppySpot will provide reimbursement of reasonable, documented, actually incurred veterinary expenses associated with such diagnosed condition up to the purchase price of your puppy.
      3. Years 2-10: For all breeds EXCEPT English Bulldogs, if, between the first and tenth anniversary of the date of arrival, your dog is found and certified by two veterinarians of your choosing to have a congenital or hereditary condition which adversely affects the health of your dog in any material respect, and you notify PuppySpot in writing within five business days of the first veterinarian’s determination of the condition, PuppySpot shall,  upon presentation of reasonable, documented, actually incurred veterinary expenses associated with such diagnosed condition, at your option, either (i) issue a credit equal to fifty percent (50%) of the purchase price of your puppy, to be used toward the purchase of another puppy from PuppySpot  (ii) reimburse you for your actually incurred veterinary expenses associated with such diagnosed condition, up to twenty-five percent of the original purchase price of your puppy.

   2. What is not covered?

      The following are not covered by this commitment:

      1. Cost of regular veterinary care, food, medicine, supplements, training, grooming, cleaning, or other costs of raising and owning a puppy.
      2. Injuries or accidents, including, but not limited to, ingestion of foreign matters, choking, falls, scrapes, bumps, bruises, bug bites, human inflicted injuries, run-aways, car related injuries, injuries, and illness or injury resulting from or related to veterinary procedures (e.g. spay or neuter procedures, tail docking, etc.).
      3. Behavior, personality, or temperament traits including, but not limited to potty training, chewing, digging, etc.
      4. Appearance, size, or other physical characteristics, breed standards, or aesthetic preferences.
      5. Hip dysplasia diagnosis in breeds that are known to be prone to hip dysplasia and are overweight or over exercised.
      6. Results of genetic testing.
      7. Contagious illnesses or parasites that are diagnosed more than 14 days after puppy's arrival.
      8. Hereditary diseases diagnosed more than 10 years after puppy's arrival.
      9. Any health claims diagnosed more than one year after puppy's arrival if puppy is an English Bulldog.
      10. Any of the following conditions diagnosed at any time in an English Bulldog: Cherry Eye, Entropion, "loose hips", skin allergies, elongated soft palate, small trachea, stenotic nares, and other normal conditions for English Bulldogs.
      11. Coverage is limited only to puppy on invoice and excludes any other animals residing in or visiting to customer’s household.

   3. Hypoglycemia is also not covered

      All puppies, and especially small breed puppies 5lbs or under, are susceptible to hypoglycemia.  Also known as low blood sugar, hypoglycemia is characterized by: 

      • Low energy 
      • Little to no appetite 
      • Lethargy 
      • Overly hot – or cold – body temperature 
      • Vomiting and/or diarrhea 

      To avoid hypoglycemia, it is important to make sure the puppy is on a proper- and monitored - feeding schedule. Especially during the first two weeks in a new home. A change in environment is a form of stress to a puppy new in a home, and this can be seen in improper eating.  Always keep food available during the first couple weeks at home until the puppy is observed to be eating regularly. 

      Additionally, the steps to avoid hypoglycemia include feeding the puppy a sugar supplement like Nutri-Cal, Nutri-Stat, karo syrup or processed honey to kick start a proper appetite. This is not a replacement for proper food, merely a way to provide the temporary energy needed to resume eating. This can be done by: 

      • Putting the supplement on a finger to have the puppy lick it off 
      • Rubbing supplement on the puppy’s tongue, gums or roof of the mouth 
      • Ensuring the puppy swallows 
      • Supplement can also be administered by syringe, much like feeding a human baby. 

      As hypoglycemia is not considered an infectious issue nor hereditary or congenital in nature, cases of hypoglycemia are not covered by our Health Commitment. Ensuring a puppy eats properly and regularly is paramount to the ongoing health of a puppy and is solely the responsibility of the puppy’s owner. We strongly encourage all PuppySpot customers to be familiar with our video about hypoglycemia.  

   4. What are your obligations?

      YOU MUST FULFILL THESE OBLIGATIONS, AS EXPLAINED HEREIN, OR THIS HEALTH COMMITMENT WILL TERMINATE AND BECOME NULL AND VOID.

      a.    In order to make a claim, you must provide PuppySpot with  proof of pet insurance from our partner, Fetch Pet Insurance, or another major medical pet insurance provider at the time that you make such claim which demonstrates that the insurance policy was in force for at least six (6) months from your puppy’s arrival.  In the event that the pet insurance is cancelled for any reason during this six month period, PuppySpot’s commitment as provided herein shall terminate and be null and of no force and effect.

      b.    You must also ensure that your puppy has timely vet visits and complete medical records evidencing these visits shall be provided to PuppySpot in the event you wish to exercise this PuppySpot commitment. 

      Additionally, we strongly encourage all responsible new puppy owners to take their puppy to the vet as close to arrival as safely possible. This can include telemedicine visits which are a great way to get immediate access to a vet without waiting. This will allow your vet to get to know your new puppy's vaccine schedule and get a care program started. This is also a recommendation as your new pup will have just changed environments from breeder to your home. Getting a checkup right away helps the transition go as smoothly as possible.
      1. No Vaccines for 10 Days: Your puppy will arrive up to date on vaccinations. To avoid over-vaccination, you should not vaccinate the puppy within the first ten (10) days after your puppy's arrival.
      2. No Dog Parks and other places where puppy will mingle with unknown dogs: Puppies without a complete set of vaccinations should    not be attend a dog park until such vaccinations are completed.  This typically occurs at 16 weeks of age.
      3. Regular Veterinary Care: You must visit a licensed veterinarian on a regular basis and ensure your dog receives proper health checkups and timely inoculations.
      4. Appropriate exercise: All dogs need regular exercise and stimulation. You should speak to your veterinarian about the appropriate amount of exercise for your breed of puppy at each stage of its life. In particular, you should be careful to avoid over-exercising your puppy during its growth period.
      5. Healthy Diet: Your puppy will arrive with information about the type of food it has been fed so far [and a small amount of that food]. If you plan to transition to a new food, you should do so gradually to allow your puppy a chance to acclimate to the new food. You should follow a recommended nutritional program, including feeding only premium dog foods and veterinarian approved supplements. You should be careful not to under or over feed your puppy and, in particular, if your puppy's breed is prone to hip dysplasia be careful not to over-feed your dog.
      6. No breeding: Your puppy is intended to be a companion dog; do not breed your dog. If your dog is bred, this health commitment shall terminate and become null and void. Your puppy should be spayed or neutered at an age deemed appropriate by your veterinarian.
      7. Pet insurance: For all issues that arise, we will require proof that you have raised a claim with your insurance provider. Only valid claims from your insurance provider will be considered valid under our Health Commitment and be eligible for reimbursement.

   5. How to file a claim

      If you have complied with the requirements in Section 4 of this commitment and your puppy experiences a health issue that you believe may be covered under this commitment, you should notify PuppySpot immediately by emailing us at [email protected] or calling us at (866) 306-6064.  

      PuppySpot has two methods for processing a claim.  

      Method One: Specific to the following chart and only requires a copy of a paid, itemized invoice of veterinarian services performed for coverage to be provided. These are items not typically covered by pet insurance but you should check with your provider.

      • Note:  * indicates valid only if invoiced service was conducted during the 14-day infectious period. Defined as the first 14 days puppy has been in the new home. 

      Issue	Covered	Not Covered	Amount
      Parasites*  -giardia, coccidia, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms and hookworms	Lab test confirming presence of ova or cysts	Elisa positive only (no ova or cysts present)	Lesser of $150.00 or invoiced amounts for tests and medication
      Vaccinations*	Only applies to vaccines not received prior to going home  No invoice required, only review of vaccination records	All vaccines regularly considered a part of the puppy’s development after going home	$50.00 per booster required.
      Ear Infections*			Lesser of $150.00 or invoiced amount for tests and medication
      Ear Mites*			Lesser of $125.00 or invoiced amount for tests and medication
      Entropion			Lesser of $900.00 or invoiced amount for procedure performed
      Eye Infection*			Lesser of $275.00 or invoiced amount for tests and medication
      Fleas and Ticks*			Lesser of $50.00 or invoiced amount for medication
      Repair of Inguinal Hernia	Ideally addressed at time of spay/neutering  Only the portion itemized as procedure	Anesthesia, spay/neutering	Lesser of $225.00 or invoiced amount for procedure
      Repair of Umbilical Hernia	Ideally addressing at time of spay/neutering  Only the portion itemized as the procedure	Anesthesia, spay/neutering	Lesser of $200.00 or invoiced amount for procedure
      Kennel Cough*			Lesser of $300.00 or invoiced amount for medication
      No Microchip			Lesser of $50.00 or invoiced amount to have chip inserted
      Retained Tooth	Must be addressed at time of spay/neutering	Anesthesia, spay/neutering	Lesser of $400.00 or invoiced amount for procedure
      Upper Respiratory Infection*			Lesser of $200.00 or invoiced amount for medication
      Undescended Testicle	Only the portion allocated to addressing the additional procedure done at time of normal neutering	Anesthesia, spay/neutering	Lesser of $225.00 or invoiced amount for procedure
      Redundant Vulva	Entire procedure		Lesser of $225.00 or invoiced amount for procedure

      Method Two: For all issues not covered above. Primarily for hereditary or congenital issues discovered outside of the first 14 days in the new home (known as the infectious period) though there may be some issues discovered at the puppy’s initial vet visit that may require treatment. 

           With Active Insurance:

      • You are required to seek reimbursement from your pet insurance provider
      • For all valid claims as determined by your pet insurance provider, PuppySpot will reimburse you up to $300 of deductible and 100% of copay.  This coverage will last for all claims up to 10 yrs (save breed exclusions listed above) up to your Puppy’s Price (excluding tax, travel or extra services purchased on same invoice as puppy)
      • For claims not deemed valid by your pet insurance provider, there is no further recourse.

           Without Active Insurance (having it only for the first six months and cancelling):

      • Should you drop pet insurance within 6 months of your puppy’s arrival, the Health Commitment will be null and void
      • Should you no longer be covered by pet insurance after 12 months of your puppy’s arrival, you are required to include a copy of the health records associated with your puppy's diagnosis and any other information you have about the health issue.
      • After receiving the information required, PuppySpot will work with you to obtain any additional information we need to review your claim.  
      • In case of severe knee, elbow or hip dysplasia, the radiograph should be permanently identified in the film emulsion with registered name and/or number, name of the veterinarian or hospital making the film, date of radiograph taken. Furthermore, the radiograph and report must meet the standard submission requirements of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
        

      • Once PuppySpot has received all necessary documentation regarding the diagnosis and associated costs, including a necropsy if the puppy passes away, a member of the PuppySpot Health Team will review your claim and determine whether and to what extent it is covered under this commitment. Because of the detailed nature of the documentation needed to review these claims, this process can take several days to complete. 

        IF YOU DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF YOUR PUPPY’S ARRIVAL, OR DROP IT WITHIN THAT 6 MONTH PERIOD, THE HEALTH COMMITMENT IS NULL AND VOID

        Once PuppySpot has received all necessary documentation regarding the diagnosis and associated costs, including a necropsy if the puppy passes away, a member of the PuppySpot Health Team will review your claim and determine whether and to what extent it is covered under this commitment. Because of the detailed nature of the documentation needed to review these claims, this process can take several days to complete. 
        PuppySpot reserves the right to, at any time during the claim review process, obtain an additional opinion by a veterinarian of PuppySpot's choosing to review any diagnosis submitted in connection with a claim under this commitment

      6. Who can file a claim?

      Only the original purchaser of the puppy from PuppySpot can file a claim under this commitment. In other words, this commitment is not transferable to any new owner.

      7. How does state law apply?

      This commitment gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

      8. What if we have a dispute?

      FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF ANY DOUBT, PARAGRAPHS 13 AND 14 IN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE RELATING TO MANDATORY ARBITRATION SHALL APPLY TO ANY CLAIMS ARISING UNDER, OR RELATING TO, THE TERMS OF THIS HEALTH COMMITMENT.

      If you are entitled to a credit and decline to use such credit, PuppySpot shall be under no further obligation, and it shall be deemed that you have released PuppySpot from any and all further claims and waived any rights to pursue any claims against PuppySpot.

      Definitions:

      Veterinarian – A doctor of veterinary medicine licensed by the applicable state licensing authority.

      Purchase Price – The "Purchase Price" of the puppy is simply the purchase price paid to PuppySpot and does not include taxes, shipping, health certificate and veterinarian costs, shipping crate or any additional costs or expenses incurred or asserted by the you.