Lying about AKC registration, is this a crime?

[gittelle]

my aunt just bought a puppy and she was told it was AKC registered. then when the papers came it was ACA (american canine association) not AKC.
is this a crime? what should she do? can she get some money back?
she wants to keep the puppy but thinks this was false advretising. I think it's not right, and there must be something that can be done.

[yorkie_mama22]

Originally Posted by gittelle

my aunt just bought a puppy and she was told it was AKC registered. then when the papers came it was ACA (american canine association) not AKC.
is this a crime? what should she do? can she get some money back?
she wants to keep the puppy but thinks this was false advretising. I think it's not right, and there must be something that can be done.

I'm not 100% sure what would happen in this situation. But how come you aunt did not look at the papers prior to buying the puppy? I always ask to see all documents before getting the puppy.

[My Sophia]

Did she have something in writing before she bought saying the pup would be AKC? Could be considered misrepresentation maybe. And definitely criminal stupidity on the seller's part since it's something the buyers can verify.

[gittelle]

she was not intending on showing the dog or breeding. but on the website it said the puppy was AKC registered, and then later the breeder sent her the papers and they were ACA

[yorkie_mama22]

I would imagine if she has proof that she was being sold one of those AKC pups and in fact got ACA she may be able to take her to court for some costs? But I am not sure. The breeder could easily say she has AKC ones but the one in particular was not AKC.

[WalnutHill]

False advertising, yes. The only recourse would be civil court, and even at that, without a contract stating that AKC papers will be provided, there isn't much to do about it.

Here is a quote from the AKC (found at American Kennel Club - About Registration):

When you buy a dog represented as AKC registrable, you should receive an AKC Dog Registration Application form properly filled out by the seller. When you complete your portion and submit it with the proper fee, this form will enable you to register the dog. When the application has been processed, you will receive an AKC Registration Certificate.

Under AKC Rules, any person who sells dogs represented as AKC registrable, must maintain records that make it possible to give full identifying information with every dog delivered even though AKC "papers" are not yet available. Do not accept a promise of later identification.

And Another (from Dogs Sold Without Papers):

The buyer of an AKC-registrable dog should obtain the dog's AKC papers from the seller at the same time the dog is purchased. If a dog is delivered or sold with the understanding that AKC papers will not be furnished, the buyer should sign a statement agreeing to this condition. This agreement should be kept in the seller's records.

If a person acquires a dog without papers, with the explicit understanding that papers will be furnished for payment of an additional amount of money, the buyer has, in effect, forfeited any rights to the papers. If at some later date the buyer wants papers, the AKC can only advise going back to the seller to resolve the matter.