Am I entitled to my money back for a puppy I can't keep?

[cordonbleugh]

basically, I have a puppy I can't keep, he is 13 weeks old, and has done exeptionally well with training etc, knows quite a few commands already, is very clever etc, apart from one issue - the biting, it's not just normal biting and rough play, but is actually very agressive.

Before you say anything, I have tried EVERYTHING to train him out of this, no techniques work, and when his agression is directed at my 3yo DD, I just cant take the risk that he will grow out of it.

It's not fair on her, DD can't be a normal 3yo, do anything she norally does for fear of getting attacked!

So, the breeder has agreed to have him back, but says she has no money to refund to me!

I'm assuming that she used the money for the sale of the puppies to pay off a large debt, because 8 puppies at £250 each is a lot of money!!

He is not purebred by the way, so he is not kennel club registered or anything like that.

I have asked her to have him back asap, otherwise he will go to dogs trust or somewhere similar, but now she is getting a bit nasty towards me (via text!) about the whole situation.

I made a mistake in getting the puppy and fully admit to that, now i just want him gone before he hurts DD again. I did a LOT of research, and waited months before getting him btw, so it was definately not and impulse decision, it just hasn't worked out

Anyone got any advice?

Well done CB!! And Vallhala for calming you down. You are in the right not her. She osunds thoroughly unhinged!!! Barmy woman.

gosh you are getting attacked from all sides CB, the dog, mumsnet and now the breeder. your original text to her was perfectly polite but you must stop communicating with her now as you are adding fuel to the fire. (possibly explaining what happened with archie?)

she cant have the dog back obviously and she has no right to him. once something is sold (and i know a dog is not a thing flamers) it's sold. end of.

ignore the texts and fgs stop getting drawn into fights!

Ok - well great that you've found a possible suitable home for him but the breeder is plainly unhinged! She sold you the dog, you said you wanted to bring him back but haven't yet done so, she refused to give you a refund (totally within her rights of course) and now she's acting as if you've stolen him from her Stand firm - she is barking (geddit )

lol ok the latest, and from now on i will not be communicating with her.

from her "and i meant legally, as we both know. Again, my mother is a lawywer an i am the legal breeder and owner of that puppy. now leave me alone. see you in court."

Iknow i should have left it at that but i replied saying...." you're not a registered breeder though are you? I wish you the best of luck."

To which she replied "i am a breeder. my dog has the DNA of alfie and the vets know i bred him. that is all the court of law will take into account."

And then "now again, leave me alone or i will also look into harrassment law."

Of course, im not going to reply after that.........but the fucking cheek of her!! Please someone tell me she is talking out of her arse?!

Should i post in legal? I think a trip to citizens advice in the morning would be a good idea aswell?

You paid her! She is the former owner. You have no receipt but the dog is 13 weeks old, I think had you stolen him she would have rung the police by now. You paid her and you have witnesses to that effect, she is totally off the wall on this one! I think the poster who said she was cross because she can't sell him on is right and I also think that this bizarre behaviour may be saying something about the homelife he was exposed to before you had him and also the conditioning the parent dogs are used to.

well, i have since found out that the reason she asked me to look after her pup (my pups brother form the same litter) for 2 weeks, is because its mum - my pups mum - is being nasty to him and has really hurt him on a couple of occaisions

Perhaps my thoughts of alfie being aggressive are not totally unfounded? I dont know. I dont care anymore, just glad that he will be going to a fantastic home on saturday afternoon

But the cheek of telling me to leave her alone of she would look into harrassment law, when she bloody threatened me ffs!

And good luck to her trying to take me to court - for what?! I havent got any money! she can take on my debts for me if she likes though!!

DNA??? yes its a case for CSI alright . ignore her. you cant have something back once its sold. the world would be chaos if you could. please dont spend any more energy worrying about this.

cheers blinder and northern lurker....just shook me up to be honest, never been threatened with legal action before, even if she is spouting crap.

Barking woman!!!

Is the dog microchipped?

THAT is what any disputed ownership is going to take into account.

DNA, FFS!!! I think the police would laugh her out of the place!!!

Was the puppy microchipped before you picked him up (Mine was, but I think my breeded might have just been a bit more together than yours!!!). I know my breeder microchipped DDog and listed my details as the owner.

You might want to check that?

Well, good luck, Alfie and your new owner. I'm glad you managed to find a resolution you are all happy with.

CB im really glad youve found a home for him. thats fantastic news. and as for the 'breeder' - please pay no heed to her threats, she will get nowhere. dont reply to any more of her texts.
she probably had plans to sell him on, and is seeing the ££££ signs.

im so relieved this has a happy ending.

well done Valhalla.

She is as one poster rightly put 'barking'. Go to CAB if it will put your mind at rest, but she is talking total utter bollocks.

Her mum is not a lawyer, I would bet my last cent on that. And if she approached a Solitor about this they would most likely pee themselves with laughter, or have her sectioned

I hadnt thought about the microchipping thing, as far as im aware, she did not get it done before i got him, just his first vaccination. I was planning to get him microchipped soon, but obviously circumstances have changed since then.

I wouldnt be able to feel it either would i? If he has a microchip I mean. And surely she would have said "well hes microchipped with my details so that proves hs mine" if she had done it?

Yes, vallhala is fantastic!

Cheers vicar, sorry if i said anything out of order earlier in the thread, been very emotional and defensive etc.

cordonbleugh , this thread has confirmed for me that the dog world is choc full of absolute nutcases,something `I have observed in real life again and again.

Cordonbleugh, you have NO place in that world. You talk too much sense

no offence taken CB, sorry if i sounded unsupportive, just so pleased youve got a home for him, and tbh i lay some of the responsibility for this firmly with the so called breeder. Hopefully an experienced dog handler will be able to nip his bad habits in the bud pretty quickly - he is young enough.

i can't feel my dogs microchips but if she had done it you'd have been given some forms to fill in or a number to call for change of details - my guess is she hasnt done it - its not cheap and she sounds like a money grasping nutjob, so i think you can rest easy on that score.

she is making idle threats against you - im sure she hasnt got a leg to stand on. shes just trying it on.

thanks jasper, this situation with the breeder leads me to agree with you about nutcases in the dog world, and many others will agree im sure, but to balance that, there are the wonderful people like vallhala, wags and bella, who are truly fantastic

As an aside, i found
this

It refers more to cases where people are divorcing and arguing over who get to keep the dog i think but still slightly relevant.

saw your link
YIKES!

Thats good to know about the microchip forms vicar

His new owner has literally years of experience with labs, already owns a lab cross who came to him having been abused, and so displayed some bad behavior, but he turned her around and she is now a lovely dog apparently.

I think it will also do him good to live with another dog, and in a child free home.

She's bluffing, CB - plain and simple. Not a leg to stand on - never mind 4 of them (sorry, could not resist it ).

You didn't sign anything (even if you had, breach of contract would be the worst she could go for and it's doubtful she'd want to), you paid for Alfie and you are finding him a good home.

Deep breath now

And jasper - who the feck are you calling a nutcase?

Well done Vallhala & Wags

Responsible breeders find it hard enough to enforce 'puppy contracts' - once the dog's sold, it's sold, and any returns are usually down to the breeder's understandable anxiety that their much-loved puppy doesn't end up being flogged to a pet shop or worse. Cash doesn't come into it.

She doesn't exactly sound like the bleeding heart type. And she also doesn't sound like the type who's declaring any additional income from dog breeding to the tax man. I bet once it dawns on her that this way she doesn't have the headache of finding a new home for a snappy puppy, she'll back off. Leave her to work it out for herself, and don't get drawn in any further.

Not all doggy people are loons, honest...

thanks bella, feel more reassured now, and a lot calmer! lol Wanted to tell her what a TWUNT she is, but im more sensible than that!

So i guess now i just wait and see if i get a letter summoning me to court!

its laughable really isnt it.

Sorry, delayed post - clearly some doggy people move mountains for mutts! [applaus-icon] Vallhala and Wags!

lol thanks wildfig....no, i doubt she is declaring the money she has made...something else i hadnt thought of, especially as she told me she is going to breed from the mum again at her next season

I'm so glad puppy is getting a new home and I'm glad you were letting him out more

The breeder is what gives the dog world bad names - she doesn't have a leg to stand on and is just trying to get as much money as she can for him (while as valhalla had said) 100's of dogs die in pounds.

Good luck to Alfie and I hope you get a dog at a later stage for your DD as I think animals should be part of a childs life. My DD adores her dog and I knew all along that Id get one for her when she was old enough( but couldnt hold out on my love for one any longer) Just watch that this situation doesn't make her scared of them. If you have friends/family with a friendly dog then take her to visit.

Thanks valhalla and waggs and more and thank you CB for ignoring all the criticism from everyone (including me) and getting the dog a good home.

thanks lucky

FWIW, i understand the criticism i got, its easy to judge when you're not in a situation yourself, i am guilty of that myself!

Im just happy that there is a happy ending for alfie, and DD in all of this.

As for the breeders claims, im laughing about it now, but vallhala will tell you, i was on the verge of tears earlier! Never been threatened to be taken to court before and its not nice!

I imagine it's not.
Our dog is a rescue dog (and so are our cats) and I know that I have to return to rescue if anything goes wrong cos we signed contracts BUT I'd never return. YOU never signed a contract so 2 fingers to her.

The reason for the judging I think is cos we all imagine this tiny little thing being stuck in a cage and automatically try to help it. I'm terrible for it cos I work with rescues and see terrible things happening over and over so unfortunately I automatically imagine the worst.

Anyways. All sorted now and good luck Alfie