Ick. I had to stop payment on a check. I bought a puppy from a breeder

[radwriter0555]

this weekend, the CUTEST little black & tan pomeranian all of 2.5 lbs, healthy and sound per the vet.

However, the gal has been completely non-responsive since Saturday as far as info on puppy's shots and birth date, and getting me her papers as she is purported to be from AKC registered champions; (I saw many photos of the dad, met the mom and saw pix of the sibling, simply gorgeous dogs) as well, there was a crunchy bit of skin on the back of her neck which had me get her to the vet on the hop yesterday with concerns of ringworm. The vet is pretty sure it's not ringworm, however, and just a nip that was nibbled by a flea. So that's all good news.

BUT without info on any shots that may have been started, we have to re-do the puppy shots from the beginning which can be tough on their little systems, as far as the worming goes. I don't mind spending the money, but I don't want to subject puppy to more than she needs. (My vet and I are BIG proponents of as few vaccines as possible...)

BUT 4 unresponsive emails and un-answered phone calls and I've paid a serious amount of money for this puppy, I;m getting worried that I won't get the info I need. So, I sent her an email saying I stopped payment and will give her cash when I get the papers and the rest of the information.

I feel really really really really really bad. Should I do anything further? I just want what I paid for.

I did the right thing, right?

[blueknight]

1. you did nothing wrong,

there was a deal made,and,thus far, they have not held up their end of the deal

[Q3JR4]

2. In your shoes, I'd have done the same thing.

[Be Brave]

3. I think you acted reasonably.

Is she a reputable breeder?

[Bunny]

4. How old is the puppy? It may take a while to get AKC papers on her.

The breeder has to register the litter, and then she (the breeder) will get the individual AKC apps for each puppy. Unless the breeder does this immediately after their birth, it can often take longer to get the papers back from the AKC as it does to place the puppies. (If you catch how I've drifted. :))

This happened when I got my Pug. She was eight weeks old when I got her - the breeder didn't get her papers back from the AKC until she was almost 12 weeks old. She then forwarded them to me. At that point, it was up to me to decide whether to actually register my Pug through the AKC. (I chose not to, BTW, since I had no intention of breeding or showing her.)

The other stuff re: the shots is troublesome, as is the fact that she hasn't returned calls and e-mails. I have no advice about this - perhaps a quick call to an attorney would spell out the legal obligations? :shrug: Good luck.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. But she should be responding in some way.. an explanation of some sort is

in order.

[Bunny]

8. You are exactly right. It's troublesome that she's not responding,

especially concerning the immunizations.

[lukasahero]

14. You've been trying to reach her since this past Saturday?

It's only Tuesday and it was a holiday weekend. Isn't it possible she's just out of town?

I'm sure the stop payment on the check will get her attention if she is being truly unethical but it could also be an honest misunderstanding.

[radwriter0555]

22. Our actual conversation was "let's talk (on Sunday morning) and

see how it's going..." and I haven't been able to reach her at all.

We had met on Saturday morning.

[lukasahero]

25. Hmmm. That doesn't sound good.

I just thought that with everyone's responses basically saying "shoot the bitch" (the seller, not the dog :-)) that maybe some other possibilities should be offered. Guess I'm still ever the optimist.

Good luck.

[Fridays Child]

5. That'll get her attention!

Your action is reasonable and, hopefully, she'll have a reasonable explanation for her inaction.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Absolutely right thing...especially being cautious about too many shots!

If this breeder really cared about the puppies she would have the same concern and would be forthcoming with the papers and the information.
Can the vet do titres to see if there are any antigens in the pups systems to indicate if she has had any shots?
You should call the AKC and any Pomeranian Breeders Org to check on this breeder.
You can also let this breeder know that you are calling these people if she does not respond posthaste, but call them anyway. It should not take these threats to make her respond. These groups should know what kind of irresponsible breeder she is.

[radwriter0555]

11. Well, I think at this point it's safe to assume she didn't get her any

shots, considering her lack of response; she doesn't seem like the most responsible of people... or maybe just lacking in money too.

[BrklynLiberal]

16. But it would be wise to make sure..Giving too many shots to a puppy is

quite dangerous to the immune system.
Try the titres, and see if there is any way to find out for sure.
In this case, there CAN be too much of a good thing.
That little lump you found could possibly be the site of the shots. That happens sometimes.

[barb162]

18. totally agree, better NO shots than double shots

[BrklynLiberal]

19. Right. Just wait and give the next round of shots at the appropriate time

No harm, no foul.

[LynneSin]

9. I'm sure the AKC or someplace has somewhere you can register a complaint

Breeders like the one you're dealing with should be reported. I'm sure there is something on AKC website were you can get more information about reporting them. Then make a call and use that as a threat against the breeder if she/he does not provide information to you

[BrklynLiberal]

17. Couldn't hurt to write a letter to an ditor of a local paper either. Bad

publicity hurts...or an online listing of breeders, if the AKC or breeder organization won't be of any help.

[China_cat]

37. Unfortunately all the AKC

cares about is the registration fees. More than half their income comes from the Hunte corporation, largest puppy miller in the US.

[ronnykmarshall]

10. Did the check clear your account yet?

If so, you might be out of luck.

[radwriter0555]

12. No, it hasn't. My bank lets me do that stuff online. The Holiday

worked my my favor, surely, and the credit union only has one office WAY out in the Los Angeles burbs.

[ronnykmarshall]

27. Do it ASAP.

Most credit unions process their checks via some of the larger banks or a third party service. That check might be clearing your account tonight.

[radwriter0555]

35. I did it first thing. Now something else has caught my attention. She had

me make the check to another person, who, upon googling, is a local 'celeb' of sorts, a "Pauline Briones"... whose name is associated with Tom Sizemore. I don't believe SHE was Pauline.

This is all getting wierd and confusing.

[ET Awful]

13. Nobody has asked the most important question here. . . . .

Where the hell are the pictures of the puppy dammit? :) :) :)

[BrklynLiberal]

20. ROTFLMAO.... Right!

[radwriter0555]

23. Egads, even after 3 years here I STILL can't figure out how to post pix...

I will TRY, I promise, so that everyone can make the appropriate noises of appreciate and mushiness.

[sui generis]

15. sounds like a puppy mill style of breeder

I'd go one further - pay her a surprise visit, and bring a camera.

I had a sweet little yorkie who was given to me as a gift; turns out he was a puppy mill puppy. He had chronic seizures, a luxating patella, hormone problem (he was a bald yorkie) and digestive problems, and although he was as spoiled as any of my critters, did not have a good life.

But he had his AKC papers!

Bullshit - AKC will give you papers if you send them a check - you could register your little brother if you like.

[RebelOne]

21. I was going to say the same thing.

This is either a puppy mill or a back-yard breeder who breeds inferior dogs.

[radwriter0555]

24. Yes, I get the feeling she might be a puppy miller, but she IS in an

apartment which makes it a little harder than the rural ones...

And like I said, I met the mom, saw the whole album of the dad and the sibling... but she wouldn't let me come to her apartment. I have a feeling sanitation is an issue, considering how smelly the baby was and just a general instinct tells me something is UP.

I have some good connections with animal control here in los angeles. If I can track her down, I think I might have AC pay her a visit. Now that I think about it, it's possible that the ouchie on her neck might be a rat bite.

Yikes. Could be I did the little girl a BIG favor.

[miss_kitty]

26. mmmmm

sounds like a call to her local animal protection agency might be in order.....

[barb162]

28. the puppy should not have smelled. That apt. could have cages

filled with sick animals. Please call the cops/animal control right away. PLEASE!!!!

I know a person who ran into a similar situation and he never got the papers on his animal. The breeder was back yard breeding; had the animals in an unlit, unheated garage in small cages in a cold area of the country where it can go to minus 20 degrees F.

[barb162]

29. well where did you see her when she delivered the puppy?

Every breeder I know who is legit welcomes people in their homes.

[radwriter0555]

31. well get this, she had me meet her outside her apartment as she was

coming back from getting the mom... and since there was no place to park (being Venice, CA, the city with NO parking anywhere) we went around the corner.

It all got very hinky very fast.

I will definitely try to get her actual address... there is something totally not right.

[barb162]

32. was her address on the contract? this sounds "smellier" all the

time. Also if you call the breed group association in your area, they could tell you right away if she is in good standing with the breed association or if she's a backyard breeder. That was the story I found when I was checking out my relative's pet buying. She never provided the papers to my relative and when I started calling other breeders, they all dissed her like crazy, saying she was selling sick animals and not allowing customers to return them, etc. (Oh and I am familiar with Venice and parking)

[SW FL Dem]

33. Sounds like she is a puppy broker not a breeder

Brokers sell dogs for puppy millers, they advertise in the paper but don't let you see their place or the parents of the puppies.

[China_cat]

36. You don't have to have 60 acres of cages stacked

on top of each other to be a puppy miller. Puppy millers are anyone who breeds just for the money. And things like what are happening to you are pretty good signs that that's the case.

I have had 2 of my breed come from breeders. Both of them, first of all, put me through more investigation than I'd have gone through to adopt a child. I was invited to be introduced to both parents, given their vet's name and phone number, copies of the genetic testing done on both parents, a full schedule of the puppy shots and vet care, pictures of the pups right after whelping. I had to sign a contract spelling out the rights for each of us.

I was also given full instructions on care and feeding, a health certificate and a health guarantee.

At a minimum, you should have vet's name and number, a health certificate and copies of records of care. The blue slip for registration and a guarantee of some sort that would allow you to return the pup for exchange or refund...or allow a partial refund to cover YOUR vet bills for a sick pup that you don't want to return. Anything less and what you have is a puppy miller.

Send her a letter. If she doesn't respond with the appropriate certification within 10 days, report her to your health department and local humane society.

[China_cat]

38. Reading over my last post

motivated me to get out the book that my last pup's breeder supplied me with and check out the contract. One clause that I had forgotten about states that if any time during the dog's life I should not be able to care for her or find that I can no longer keep her, the breeder will take her back...ANYTIME DURING THE DOG'S LIFE.

[candy]

30. You did EXACTLY the right thing.

This person is running a business,after all,and obviously has no business sense.

Enjoy the little one!

[Maine-ah]

34. you should have been given the papers when you got the puppy.

[HeyManThatsCool]

39. You absolutely did the right thing.

I suspect that since she isnt calling you back she doesn't have the proper paperwork.

That leaves her open to a lawsuit.