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Let Joe Know: Don't end up with a sick pet for Christmas

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Sometimes that image of a new puppy under the Christmas tree is much better than the reality.

If you buy from an online seller, how do you know if the pet is healthy?

Chris West, with the Arizona Humane Society says "it's very difficult to determine immediately if you have a problem with that pet."

And in the rush to get a dog for Christmas, you could end up with a sick animal.

Or you could get scammed by an online seller.

Red flags might be their demand for you to wire money upfront.

And they refuse to let you see the animal or their property in person.

If you buy from a store, there is protection.

There is a pet "lemon law."

You have 15 days to prove your pet was sick when you bought it and 60 days to show it has a hereditary health condition.

Or as West says, you could "adopt don't shop."

Click herefor details on the Arizona Pet Lemon law.