I think that this is a brilliant post. For years pet shops have traded
on "warrantees" as if the pet stores were a heavenly authority who/which
could assure an owner that their beloved pet would not get sick. Of
course they were banking on the fact that bonding occurs within
nanoseconds of bringing a puppy home and no one wants to return a pup (a
precondition of those old warrantees) in return for money.
In the U.S. some states have enacted "lemon laws" concerning what must
be covered under warranty; in many if not most states hobby breeders are
exempt from them as these laws were enacted to remedy the above
situation, i.e. when unhealthy puppy mill pups were sold there was some
recompense for foreseeable heath hazards. Again, I believe that the
legislative intent of exempting the hobbyist was similar to the USDA's
view that the hobby breeder is attempting to improve on health and
therefore shouldn't be penalized for unforeseeable health problems.
Personally, I sell all my pups for the same price because I am not yet
clever enough (and maybe never will be <G>) to know that a pup will have
a great career in anything. I don't warranty health beyond seven days;
my pups who get placed are all seen by an opthamologist and cleared
first, and parents are tested, etc, and that is the best I can do.
Frankly, I lose so much money breeding now that I can't imagine assuming
the medical costs of all people to whom I sell pups in future years even
considering I breed less than three litters a year! I think Annette has
it right when she says it is unfairly raising expectations of owners
that somehow YOU (yes, you who guarantee the health of their pup) can
assure them that you've worked some magic and *their* pup won't get ill.
My contract says just the opposite. It says that I have done
absolutely everything in my power to assure the health of their pup
(which I do), but that they assume the risk of all inheritable
diseases. I ask every puppy buyer to read up on all inheritable
diseases and make an informed decision. I try to talk buyers out of
buying Cavaliers if they are frightened by any of the inherited
conditions, but do tell them to look into the inherited conditions in
all breeds; many have as many or worse than Cavaliers.
I have had many, many animals over my lifetime and have been through
most catastrophic illnesses with them having had astronomic veterinary
bills. (The small animals are one thing, but in horses, expenses go
through the roof for small matters never mind larger ones). After a vet
check I have always assumed that was part of MY responsibility as the
owner of the animal. I cannot for the life of me understand why it
should be someone else's responsibility if they have done their best to
breed responsibly.
Just my own take on this, of course,
Suze
Annette Jones wrote:
>
> I cannot resist getting involved in this topic although I should know better
> and when I have had my say I will retire to the air raid shelter VBG
> Let me hasten to add I am not responding to any particular post but to all
> of them in general!
> As with all generalisations there are exceptions - there always have been
> and always will be unscrupulous, unethical breeders who will take a newcomer
> who has done no research for a ride, and at the other end of the spectrum
> and I think by far the majority of breeders who try their best to produce
> quality puppies and if a problem arises try to be as helpful as possible
> but.......
>
> 1 How can any one say they are buying "show quality stock" unless that
> Cavalier has been shown and has won (even then the judges opinion is
> subjective) The most that can be said about any puppy is that it has "show
> potential" and not even that until at least 5-6 months old.
> What happens to it in its new home can make or mar that potentially show
> quality puppy. If it doesn't come up to scratch is the breeder still
> liable?? I don't think so
> What is "show quality" anyway? For example "I" might consider something I
> have bred as being "show potential" but another breeder might think "ye gods
> that is only suitable to be sold as a pet" Dare I suggest also that someone
> who has not been breeding very long perceives "all " the puppies in the
> litter as "wonderful"! VBG I know I did!!
>
> 2 Re health problems - is the breeder supposed to have a crystal ball?
> Cavaliers or any other animal for that matter are livestock - how can you
> guarantee anything about what that animal will or will not develop in the
> future? so much depends on environment, diet etc etc
> All any breeder can do is know the lines that she is breeding from and the
> health (one assumes by testing) of the parents. However with MVD in
> particular that in itself is no guarantee - as we know MVD is in all lines
> to a greater or lesser extent and as yet there is no genetic test for it. It
> is also recognised that some puppies in a litter may never develop MVD but
> will die of some other condition like kidney failure, a percentage may not
> develop a murmur until late in life whereas other unfortunately may develop
> early onset.
>
> I suppose what worries me is
> a) is breeders giving guarantees for something that they have very little
> control over
> b) new owners expectations based on those guarantees
> c) the length of time that guarantee could be viewed to last from the
> purchasers perspective- is it 1,2 5 years or for the lifetime of the animal?
> Distressing though it may be to the owner if the dog or whatever animal it
> is, if it becomes ill I really don't see how a breeder can be held
> responsible if she has provided at the time of sale the health testing
> results on the parents and other antecedents if available. Even so the
> breeder is at the mercy of the so called professionals (vets) and their
> testing can be variable!!
>
> Off now to do some work!!
>
> Annette
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Renee Bruns" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Friday, June 14, 2002 3:31 AM
> Subject: Re: [CKCS-L] question on warrantees
>
> >
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--
Suze at Llawen Cavaliers
"...I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man
to depend simply upon himself." -Isna Ia-wica
"Thought comes before speech" Luther Standing Bear
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