A pet deposit receipt is a written transaction record provided by a pet’s seller to its potential buyer when the buyer pays a deposit to purchase it. Pet breeders and pet shops alike use this receipt regularly. It usually includes most, if not all, of the following details:
- Date and time of deposit payment;
- Deposit amount paid;
- Expiration date of deposit hold (forfeiture of deposit and pet);
- Identifying information about the buyer and seller (full names, addresses, phone numbers, license numbers);
- Identifying information about the pet (breed, color, gender, size, species, weight);
- Method of payment;
- Pet’s date of birth or approximate age;
- Pre-assigned name;
- Refund terms; and
- Signature lines for the buyer and seller.
Table of Contents
What is a Pet Deposit?
Depending on the species and age of the animal, a buyer may have to wait until it’s been weaned from its mother before taking it home permanently. Pet deposits secure one of the baby animals for the specific buyer. Sellers usually collect the final payment when the buyer picks up the animal to take home permanently.
Sellers usually do not refund pet deposits. Pet sellers commonly use these deposits as screening tools to rule out any buyers who aren’t as serious about the animal as they claim to be. However, it is worth attempting to negotiate a refundable deposit with a seller.
Common Types of Pet Deposits
- Bird Deposit – A deposit paid on the sale of a bird.
- Cat (Kitten) Deposit – A deposit paid on the sale of a cat or kitten.
- Dog (Puppy) Deposit – A deposit paid on the sale of a dog or puppy.
- Fish Deposit – A deposit paid on the sale of a fish.
- Horse Deposit – A deposit paid on the sale of a horse.
- Mammal Deposit – A deposit paid on the sale of other types of mammals, such as bunnies or hamsters.
- Reptile Deposit – A deposit paid on the sale of a reptile, such as a snake or a lizard.
Table: Pet Laws (By State)