<......I see this as the crux of the problem. Pet owner
loyalty.....that same value that inspires some of us to breed better dogs....>
I don't think it's "pet owner loyalty" that keeps pet owners from
surrendering a sick or otherwise "defective" pet to a breeder for a
refund...IMHO it's nothing other than LOVE for the pet. And it doesn't
always have to be a pet (dog) received from a disreputable breeder.
Case in point: 2-1/2 yrs. ago my daughter purchased a Golden puppy
from one of this areas most visible show breeders. My daughter's not a dummy
when it comes to choosing a puppy and a breeder. She asked all the right
questions; viewed all the certificates and test results (OFA, CERF, etc.),
saw both parents on premises, checked with the breeder we worked with years
ago downstate when we were involved with Goldens; and got a written "money
back guarantee."
The problem: at the age of 6 months, the puppy developed Juvenile
Extraoccular polymiotosis (I think I've gotten the "poly--" part wrong) that
is almost exclusively found in Goldens or Golden mixes. She contacted the
breeder -- Who offered her a refund OR another puppy....but ONLY if my
daughter surrendered the puppy to her to be put down!
After lavishing almost 5 months of love and affection on this adorable
bundle of golden fluff, there was NO WAY my daughter would surrender this
puppy under these conditions. Luckily, she works for a vet so the treatment,
which would normally have cost her thousands, only cost her about $500. The
treatment also nearly killed the puppy since she was put on massive doses of
prednisone (a regimen prescribed by Dr. David Ramsey at the Univ.Michigan,
the leading expert in this condition). My daughter saved this puppy's life
and her eye sight, and probably compromised her long-term health.
In my opinion, this supposedly fine, upstanding, proper breeder should
be ashamed of herself. She knew my daughter was a 23 yr. old single girl,
living on her own and working at an entry-level job and couldn't really
afford this major type of medical expense. The $450 she received for this
puppy when she sold her to my daughter was a sum she could easily have
refunded given her own income level. At the very least she should have
offered to refund 1/2 of the purchase cost. In actuality, the one-year
money-back guarantee was no guarantee at all.
So, it wasn't pet owner loyalty...it was love for the puppy that kept
this dog from being returned. I don't think there's a single pet owner that
would not have done the same thing. And, in my opinion, if they did
surrender the puppy they don't deserve to own a dog at all. I guess it just
goes to prove that we're not going to be the avenue to getting rid of
unscrupulous breeders because we won't sacrifice the little dogs that have
stolen our hearts.
Lynn Beman
Amherst NY
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