Two Step Guide to Responsibly Buying a Puppy in Pennsylvania
Step 1
Do not impulse buy!
Always read the reports, verify the information is correct and visit the breeder. Fetch the Facts breaks it all down in a step-by-step guide and provides a free printable puppy buying checklist. You’ve learned the kennel types, how to find the inspection reports and how to read the inspection reports.
Different licenses come with different rules, oversight, and standards of care. Understanding these differences can help you spot red flags, ask better questions, and avoid supporting irresponsible breeding. This applies to licensed breeders and dealers, including online sellers, who are still considered kennels under Pennsylvania Dog Law.
State and federal laws can both apply, and some breeders are required to hold both a Pennsylvania license and a USDA license.
Step 2
Ask the right questions.
Print the puppy buying checklist. Take it with you to the store or use it for an online seller. Verify the information before you purchase.
- Reasons to NEVER FINANCE A PET:
- You pay far more than the original purchase price because of high interest rates
- Most sellers do not accept returns, even if you cannot keep the puppy
- If the puppy dies, there is no refund. You still owe the full balance
- Missing payments can lead to fees, penalties, and credit damage
- Life changes (job loss, moving, illness) can make both care and payments difficult
- Financing a puppy on impulse can lead to financial hardship as ongoing costs like vet care, food, and emergencies make it harder to keep up with payments
2. Verify the kennel card is complete. This checklist helps confirm a puppy’s health, legality, and origin, protecting you from unethical sellers and costly mistakes.
3. Visit the breeder’s home. These questions and steps help you evaluate a breeder’s ethics, cleanliness, and care to avoid unhealthy or poorly raised puppies.
4. Check the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). The CVI helps prevent scams by confirming the puppy’s health status, proper documentation, and seller legitimacy. Find out what a CIV is here.
Need help researching?
The goal of this site is to put all of the information in one place and make it free to the public but we know researching a puppy seller, breeder, rescue, or shelter takes time and sorting through public records, inspection reports, and licensing information can be overwhelming. Fetch the Facts offers consumer research services to help make the process easier. Whether you’re looking to support a responsible breeder or want to learn more about a rescue or shelter before adopting, we’re here to help.
Fetch the Facts does not promote or discourage a consumer’s choice to select a specific dog breed, but encourages informed and responsible decisions regardless of where a dog comes from. We believe that supporting responsible breeding practices, ethical rescues, and informed pet ownership can help improve animal welfare and reduce the number of dogs entering shelters over time.
If you are interested in this service please choose from one of the options below:
Puppy Trace Report
This report traces the puppy’s path from its current seller back to the breeder using publicly available records available under federal and applicable state laws. Depending on what information is publicly available, the report may include:
- The seller’s license number
- Seller inspection reports
- The breeder’s and/or broker’s license number
- Breeder and/or broker inspection reports
- Previous business names or aliases associated with the breeder, broker, or seller
- Copies of inspections or enforcement reports
- The transporter’s USDA registration number and any publicly available transporter violations or enforcement records.
This report is based solely on publicly available information and record availability may vary by state, agency and seller.
Not sure how many reports you need?
Review the examples below before submitting your request. Puppies from the same litter and seller can often be researched together, while puppies from different litters or sellers require separate research reports.
Shelter/Rescue Transparency Report
This report reviews a rescue or shelter using publicly available records and information available under federal, state, and local laws (when applicable). Depending on what information is publicly available, the report may include:
- The organization’s registered business or nonprofit name
- State charity or nonprofit registration information
- USDA and/or state license information (if applicable)
- Inspection reports and publicly available violations
- Previous business names, aliases, or affiliated organizations
- Consumer complaints
- Enforcement actions, or legal cases that are publicly documented
This report is based solely on publicly available information and record availability may vary by state, agency, and organization type.