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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Poorly puppy

76 replies

Dillydalli · 30/05/2022 17:59

Hi, I bought a puppy last week and he's got kennel cough, I've not had him round any dogs yet.
The day I picked him up the breeder rang me before I set off to say he's started with a cough and shed managed to get a same day appointment for him so I waited to hear back from her, about an hour and half maybe 2 hours later she rang to say the vet had said it's just a simple cough and is okay, the vet had given him an injection with antibiotics and some antibiotics to take home. She rang me to say she wanted to treat him with her and I could get him in a week's time when he was better or if he got worse she could take him back to the vets. But she sent a photo and I just wanted him home so badly to bond with my older dog so I said I wanted to collect still and I'd medicate him so I picked him up that day.( I know it was stupid of me) She said he had been vaccinated for kennel cough and gave me evidence of that. But now I've had to take him to my vets and they say it's kennel cough and I have a vet bill to pay now, the breeder is saying she's not giving me any money towards it as she offered to keep him till he was better and that she knocked £50 off the price I paid for him as he wasn't 100% but he's now also given my other dog kennel cough too!
Would I be unreasonable to take her to small claims court or is it my fault for taking him anyway and she's within her rights not give me money?

OP posts:
WhenISnappedAndFarted · 30/05/2022 19:17

The big thing that's changed OP is that you now have the dog, not her. You have possession of the dog and that was fully down to you because you couldn't wait because the dog was 'cute'.

You need to suck up the costs and your poor poor older dog is now suffering because you couldn't wait.

nocoolnamesleft · 30/05/2022 19:26

YABVU. The breeder made full disclosure, and offered to keep the puppy, covering the costs, until they were well. You totally disregarded that, insisted on taking the puppy, and knowingly exposed your older unvaccinated dog to infection. And now you have to face the consequences of your own actions.

AngelinaFangelina · 30/05/2022 19:31

Funny how it was cute and you were desperate to get it home until it required money spent on a vet and now you are keen to get rid back to the breeder. Not so cute now OP? I'm never "mean" on MN but this shit absolutely infuriates me.

IhopeYourCakeIsShit · 30/05/2022 19:31

I'm agog at the stupidy of your thought process in every post.

Likeli · 30/05/2022 19:31

I feel sorry for your poor poor old dog, I hope he makes a full recovery.

OP what do you mean you weren’t looking at it from their point of view, only your own?
It’s not normal to go through life only seeing things from your own selfish perspective. You need to work on that.

PaddleBoardingMomma · 30/05/2022 19:43

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100problems · 30/05/2022 19:44

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Dearmariacountmein · 30/05/2022 19:46

That poor puppy and your old dog.

This is all about you:


  • you insisted on taking a poorly puppy from its mum because it was too cute to leave

  • you infected your elderly dog because you couldn’t wait a week or two

  • now you’ve realised your fuck up you want the breeder to take the puppy back and give you your money back.


how about your do something for these poor dogs and give the puppy back without refund so it can recover with someone who knows what they are Doing go to a decent home.

Dearmariacountmein · 30/05/2022 19:52

Pressed post too soon

… It’s also not fair to pursue the breeder. They did nothing wrong. You can’t see this but if you replace puppy with car it may help you see.

I’ve been waiting to pick up a car for a few weeks. The morning I was due to pick it up the check engine light came on. The guy said that he’d taken it to the garage who said it’s likely just the electrician on the blink on the dash but they can’t fit him in to see it until next week so would I mind waiting. I did so asked for discount. I’ve been driving round for a week and the engines now blown up. I want the guy to refund me but he’s saying I took the risk in return for a discount.

Just like a private car sale puppies are sold as seen.

winterchills · 30/05/2022 20:37

@myammus yes!!!!!!

You are being massively unreasonable!! No wonder at all she's ignoring you! She was trying to do the right thing and the poorly dog should have stayed at home where it was settled whilst unwell.

XelaM · 30/05/2022 22:34

Did the breeder not provide you with 1 month free PetPlan insurance?

alqoqjn · 31/05/2022 09:08

XelaM · 30/05/2022 22:34

Did the breeder not provide you with 1 month free PetPlan insurance?

Wouldn't it be classed as a pre-existing condition anyway? So not covered by insurance?

XelaM · 31/05/2022 09:16

alqoqjn · 31/05/2022 09:08

Wouldn't it be classed as a pre-existing condition anyway? So not covered by insurance?

But if the breeder had breeders' insurance I thought all medical conditions would be covered from birth (I could be wrong)

PugInTheHouse · 31/05/2022 09:27

When my pup had a cough it was a minimal cost as just the check up and the medication, wouldn't have even been worth claiming on the insurance even if it was covered. I feel sorry for the breeder, bet they are wishing they'd not sold the pup to you now. The only thing they are unreasonable about is allowing the pup to leave when they are sick.

Badger1970 · 31/05/2022 09:31

I'm slightly concerned that a puppy would even have kennel cough, they shouldn't have been in contact to have got it ..... it's a really nasty virus, it knocked my then 6 year old off his feet for nearly a week. He caught it on holiday, and we think it was from a water bowl outside a shop.

Indoctro · 31/05/2022 09:36

100% your fault and I doubt you have any claim

You took the dog full well knowing it was ill

No the vaccine doesn't stop them getting KC but it reduces the risks from it

Also a puppy and a 13 year old dog is totally unfair.

Give the puppy back and do not get one until the old dog passes away.

Be very careful with the old dog as KC can turn into pneumonia with old dogs and that could be serious for him.

maccaroni · 31/05/2022 09:48

Are you for real!!? You’ve been an idiot and now trying to blame someone else and gain financially too. You really are something else. Take responsibility!
I hope both dogs recover and you gain some perspective and basic common sense!!

Floralnomad · 31/05/2022 09:53

You are being massively unreasonable and you are incredibly stupid , I just feel sorry for the dogs especially the older one who frankly would rather not have been bothered by any puppy in it’s twilight years , let alone a sick one .

Theluggage15 · 31/05/2022 09:55

‘I wanted him so badly because he’s cute’. How utterly pathetic. How old are you? You’ve got a 13 year old dog unvaccinated against kennel cough and you bring a sick puppy home. Unbelievable. And then try and get some compo.

Whetheryouthinkyoucan · 31/05/2022 10:30

@Badger1970 the pup could have picked it up from the vets when visiting for vaccinations to be honest.

or someone collecting their puppy could have brought it into the home. It’s a bit of a nightmare but it happens. It’s only really a risk for very young, very old or weak dogs, otherwise it’s a pain in the arse.

I am a genuine, breed every four years and only if I want one, type breeder. You are a nightmare OP. I wouldn’t be paying your vets bills, I’d either be taking the dog back and giving you a proportionate refund once the pup was resold, or I would also be ignoring you if you threatened me with court. In reality much as I would love to ignore you, I couldn’t, Id be having that puppy back and hoping you hadn’t permanently damaged him/her.

A good breeder is experienced, we know how to manage various ailments and we have good relationships with our vets to know how and when to escalate care. You are clearly a novice, I wouldn’t be trusting you had adequately cared for the sick puppy at all.

Whetheryouthinkyoucan · 31/05/2022 10:31

Puppy aside, you must not care very much for
your old dog, if your desire for something cute overrode your duty to
protect him.

Flatandhappy · 31/05/2022 10:36

You can’t take someone to the small claims court because you made a bad decision. She wanted to keep the dog so she could have him treated if necessary, you said no. She has no legal liability for the vet bills you chose to incur.

Mangogogogo · 31/05/2022 10:37

I’m absolutely shocked the breeder didn’t see red flags in you and refuse to sell

ATadConfused · 31/05/2022 10:38

You sound worse with every post.

I'm just hoping you're not exactly 'on the level'

123becauseicouldntthinkofone · 31/05/2022 11:39

Completely agree with this!