Well, I can't resist answering Suze's question, addressed to pet owners! :)
The answer is a resounding NO. I hope never to be faced with such a
situation (and I doubt I would be), but I can't *imagine* surrendering a
dog in order to go after a fraudulent breeder - nor can I *conceive* of
myself returning a dog (refund or not) to an unethical breeder!!! No matter
what were wrong with the dog, I guarantee (and would stake my life on the
fact) that any such dog would be far better off with me.
There will always be greedy and inhumane people trafficking in dogs. A
pet-owner's responsibility is to the dog depending on him/her for care - as
I once wrote, it should be "for better or worse, in sickness and in
health..."
I consider myself a realist (don't we all?...) -- and if you want to call
me a cynic, I'll cheerfully accept that! I believe we can (and should) all
do our best to educate everyone who makes inquiries of us, but we will NEVER
see the eradication of the baser motives which drive unethical breeders
(small or large). Nor will we ever see the eradication of the limitations
(intellectual, and/or emotional, and/or characterological -- as in poor
impulse control, etc. etc.) that drive pet-buyers to acquire dogs from
unethical sources. (I've been in private practice nearly 20 years but the
number of people I've worked with is a tiny *fraction* of a tinier percent
of the population. The only thing that keeps me going workwise is looking
at the *individual* lives which have gotten better, and more compassionate,
and which hopefully will affect other lives in turn - if I were to measure
my efforts by the larger society I'd pack it in!) I trust, Suze, that your
"SIGH" is not a rueful comment about "pet owner loyalty" itself, but refers
to the fact that unethical breeders prey upon that quality, yes?
Suze, if your question was rhetorical, sorry about sounding off! -- it's
been a long day ... :)
Alida (and Remy!)
<<<no pet buyer wants to return their beloved pet even if it does have
medical
problems.
I guess I should ask the pet buyers on this list; would you be
willing
to surrender your pet in order to go after a breeder who defrauded you
or breached a contract with you? Would you be willing to get a refund
and put your dog back into the hands of the breeder who defrauded you?
If we could get that to happen, then the market for such breeding might
evaporate.
I see this as the crux of the problem. Pet owner loyalty.....that same
value that inspires some of us to breed better dogs.....is the same
quality on which the disreputable breeders are literally banking.
SIGH
Suze >>>
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