horak.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW/ PARTNERSHIP mBB /
LAWYERS / PATENT ATTORNEYS

ANIMAL LAW – German Attorneys at law

animal law, horse law, dog law, small animals law, farm law, livestock law, medicine law, animal purchase law, vet animal law, liability law, public hazard prevention, animal protection law, vets law, malpractise law, torts and damages in Germany, Europe and international

Defects/Deficiencies

Although animals are living creatures, legally speaking they are considered “things” for the German juridiction. If an animal has a defect, the buyer is entitled to a certain warranty.

A distinction is made between two conditions of defects:

Without Purchase Contract

If there is no agreement on the condition, the animal is defective if:

  • the animal is not suitable for the use provided for in the contract,
  • the animal is not fit for normal use, or
  • it is not in the condition in which the same animal is normally and which a buyer expects.
With purchase contract
If an animal is not in the condition agreed in the sales contract, it is considered “defective”.

Our animal law experts attorneys offers you legal advice in the event of a warranty claim for purchase and auction.

Do not waste any time! Just book your appointment NOW ONLINE!

Living beings are individually different and naturally deviate from the ideal form, which is why these legal norms are basically difficult to apply. In most cases it is therefore advisable to consult an animal rights lawyer, who can assess your chances of success and risks. Attorney-at-law, Ms. Julia Ziegeler

Justified Defects

Examples of justified deficiencies in animals:

Allergies
Infectious diseases
Behavioural Disorders
Sketal defects
Soft tissue defects
e.g. heart defect, eye inflammation

Burden of proof

In a traditional sales contract, the buyer must prove that the defect existed at the time the animal was handed over in order to claim for warranty.

The consumer sales contract differs in that it “reverses the burden of proof”. In the case of a defect occurring within the first six months, it is presumed that the goods – in this case, the animal – were already defective at the time of delivery. The seller must prove the contrary.

The focus of the matter of animals is  however that the reversal of the burden of proof is excluded if it is incompatible with the nature of the matter or the defect. The behaviour of an animals can be dependent on how humans treat them. Changes in character also occur through keeping animals that are not appropriate for the species. If the deficiency is not based on a disease but on the behaviour of the animal, the reversal of the burden of proof can possibly be excluded.

For an infectious disease, the duration of the incubation period is measured. If the calculated time of infection is after the purchase, the buyer has no warranty rights.>> for more information on animal´s liability

Scroll to top