A Chihuahua Breeder for 30 years, I feel that you should not have let
any pup that had "a cold" leave your home until that pup was
well. It doesn't matter how old the pup was or if you had buyers
with cash in hand or anything else.
Yes, if you had kept the pup a little bit longer, you would have
then had to pay the vet bill yourself. However, that was your
responsibility when you bred the litter.
You made a mistake in letting this pup go to a new home before it was
ready. A sick puppy is not ready to go to a new home. A sick puppy
(even with a minor illness) absolutely should not be changing homes -
until it is first well again - even if an eager, uneducated buyer is
willing to take it. Although I can guess, I don't know how young you
consider a Chihuahua puppy as being "ready to go" or how you raise
your dogs. However, IMHO, the name of the game in Chihuahua
breeding is doing what is best for the Chihuahuas and not just making
a sale.
As for the matter of not being able to keep your heat above 56
degrees - because you can't afford your heat bill - how on earth can
you afford to breed Chihuahuas???
In my experience, producing a litter - and properly caring for mom
and babies - can end up being quite costly. I never breed a litter
unless I have at least $2,000 set aside for emergency expenses. Even
with a free whelping line, you never know when a C-section might be
needed. And that is just one of many unforeseen complications which
can happen when you breed Chihuahuas.
If the buyer would give you this puppy back, will you then pay for
its medical care?
What about the other puppies? What has happened with them? You said
that "a couple of the pup's got a cold", too. Have they been seen by a vet?
Liz
My pups were ready to go Monday, and they went quick! 3 of the available 4
were sold before they were ready to go! However, last week was extremely
cold here. I'm gonna be very frank and honest. I can not afford to keep my
heat very high. My temps inside my home are set at 56. We keep
covered..its the best I can do. Anyhow, a couple of the pup's got a cold.
We had already arranged pick up of the pup on Sunday so when I met her we
discussed the cold. She did not have to take the pup but I told her, if
she wants it, take it to the vet and if the vet says anything is wrong,
she can return it and I will give her her money back. Monday I called her
to see what the vet said. She said the vet said the pup had broncitis
...Again, I offered her a refund and return of the pup.
She said no. Said he would be fine. My contract states you have 72 hours
to tell me you want to return the pup and it states that if there is any
health concerns, remedies are limited to buy back of pup...I will not pay
vet bills...I do accept that the pup got sick under my care which is why I have
extended the refund time... Today she calls says it has been a week
(actually only been 5 days) said
the pup was still not better and that vet wanted to do x-rays ect and
said it was genetic...
