Please help: returning puppy

[feelinghorrible]

Hi all
I'm currently feeling like a horrible human. We bought a golden lab yesterday. Myself and my partner had dogs growing up but not since we've been living together. We also have a 4 month old DS.
We love the puppy! He's got a gorgeous temperment, obviously painfully cute and all round a lovely pup.
The problem we're having is that it seems my son may have had a reaction to the dog. When we introduced them yesterday, the pup licked DS arm before we could stop him. Not long after, DS had runny nose and eyes, sneezing, seemed to have a wheeze of sorts and a red sort of rash in the spot he had been licked. He was then very distressed and hard to settle. We removed him from the room of course. Was fine with the pup until these symptoms occurred and was smiling at him and chatting to him. When we woke DS this morning, (he sleeps 11 hours) the rash wasn't gone but was faded and his eyes and nose seemed a lot better. However, when we bought him downstairs where the pup was running around, the sneezing, runny nose, eyes and rubbing and little wheezes started again after 10-15 minutes and DS is now distressed whenever the pup is in view.
I feel horrible because I hadn't even considered that DS could have an allergy. We have a cat who he has never had a reaction to but that being said the cat isn't close to him most of the time.
I'm crying nearly as much as DS and my anxiety is working overtime. I feel awful for DS and awful for the dog as he deserves a family that can dedicate themselves to him whereas now with this happening I feel too paranoid about DS. How can I keep a dog that can't be in the vicinity of my child?
My question is, where do I stand on returning the dog? I was told they would have the dog back within a week with a written letter from a vet stating that the dog was ill but nothing for this sort of circumstance. We bought him from a pet shop attached to a house and the man selling the pups sells them on behalf of the breeder. It was very legit. I'd be lying if I said we're not concerned about the £500 we paid as we were more than willing to pay this for a beautiful dog but of course, if we can't keep him we have lost £500. If not I feel I will have to rehome him ourselves before he gets too attached to our family as that is even more unfair of the dog. How would I go about this?
I'm going to ring the man we purchased the puppy from shortly but am trying to compose myself first and console DS so I just wanted some help and support. Please no nasty comments I know how horrible I sound!

Olympia the OP bought a dog not a fucking car!

Two things.

Don't return the dog

dont sell him on.

i may be able to help if you are in the south east. please pm me.

Again, DO NOT sell him on or ask the puppy farmer to sell him again

I wouldn't even bother contacting him, what's the point? Just go straight to the breed rescue

This is true. Also true is that the allergy can worsten. A constantly challenged immune system can also cause its own problems.

I was born into a family with a cat, a dog and a pet rabbit. Horses at the end of the garden. I developed symptoms like your son. At first my parents tried to perserve with antihistimines. Today I have life threatening allergies to rabbits and horses, a severe allergy to cats and some dogs I'm OK with. Oh, and I have numerous other allergies and Crohns disease (autoimmune). And lung damage from constant asthma and lung infections as a small child.

In your situation I'd rehome your dog.

First things first OP, take DS to see your GP. Ask whether there is any way of managing his allergy to your puppy. In fact, double check that his symptoms are actually an allergic reaction (although they do very much sound like it).

If you do have to rehome the puppy, there is a Labrador Rescue somewhere in the Midlands (I am also in the Midlands and have heard of it but am not that sure where it actually is). I honestly don't know whether they can take unwanted/unsuitable pets or whether they only have capacity for dogs that have had to be rescued. Similarly, I'm sure the RSPCA centres would have lots of interest in a gorgeous little Labrador puppy - but they cannot take in pets as they only have space for rescue animals. They might well be able to advise you on the best way to rehome him though.

Best of luck .

We have got a report that the puppy's hips, legs, eyes etc have been checked over by a vet and he is perfectly healthy. His KC papers are also on file at the vets according to the report they have been seen.

I'm living in the West Midlands

Barbarianmom this is my main concern. If DS symptoms seem to get worse rather than better.

He has had a couple of colds over the winter and although they obviously all differ, this doesn't seem like any cold he's had in the past. There's no fever present, generally he runs a slight fever when run down with a cold

Is this puppy micrichipped. It is alegal requirement that puppies are chipped by the breeder.

Did you not get paperwork to send off the the KC? I had to change ownership for my pedigree.

OP, I understand your reasoning, but I'm not sure that "giving the seller a chance" is going to achieve anything. From what you have described, I can say with 100% confidence that there is no reputable breeder involved here. No chance at all.

The seller is obviously going to make himself seem reeeaally caring and nice though. Like somebody else said, for him it's a chance to take the pup back and then sell him again for another £500. I bet he'll give you a really good story about how loving and legit the whole operation is. I advise you that NO REPUTABLE BREEDER would be selling through a "shop" like this.

We have got a report that the puppy's hips, legs, eyes etc have been checked over by a vet and he is perfectly healthy. His KC papers are also on file at the vets according to the report they have been seen

Both of these are lies that sound legit to laymen but actually mean that the answer is no, you do not have the KC papers and no, the puppy is not from health tested parents. Just another red flag that would stop me going anywhere near this seller again. Do not give him back this puppy, please!

Another thought OP - do you have a friend or family member who might be interested in adopting a puppy?

A long shot maybe, but at least that way you would be sure that he had gone to a good home - and you'd still be able to keep in touch.

Please don't contact the puppy farmer and hand the poor dog back. You can't go on whether he seems to have "compassion". You've already been hoodwinked by these people once.
Please contact a breed specific rescue. A puppy shouldn't be shoved in kennels.

"Then we will contact a rescue centre and also inform them of this man"

As an aside to your plan, feelinghorrible, why don't you contact the veterinary practice that vaccinated/microchipped the puppy.

You can alert them to the problem (that this and other breeds are being puppy-farmed via that sellers address) and you may be able to get the breeders details, as it is the breeder who must microchip (although I don't think you will, already there are huge scams round this).

The veterinary practice may also be able to advise you, as may the Animal Inspector from your local council (in any case, the animal inspector should want to know about puppy-farm selling happening in their area).

First thing you should do, though, is calm down. You are having a horrible experience, but really it sounds as if your son is safe (as long as you don't allow him to interact with the puppy), the puppy is safe, and you are safe ... so stop panicking. It doesn't all have to be done yesterday .

You've already made one mistake, if you go at it like a bull at a gate, you will make another. So contact all the right people for advice (please do check on here about your sources of advice, for example not all 'rescues' are the right source of advice), and take plenty of time to think it through. Do not rush to shunt this puppy out of your house in hours and days, (as long as your son is okay) please take the time to make sure the next move is the right move.

I'm sorry this has happened.

Please don't contact the puppy farmer! No offence but you weren't great at detecting they were a legitimate seller, which they clearly aren't, what makes you think you will fare any better at detecting compassion? The puppy farming industry is a big money business - they are very skilled at manipulating their marks.

There is no way in hell this set up is legit, please don't give them the opportunity to exploit this puppy further.

Should have said, you will get the Veterinary practice name and address from your paperwork (e.g. vaccine / microchip / etc). If the Veterinary practice address is not on your paperwork, then google.

If the Veterinary practice name and address is not on your paperwork (or if it has been added without the practice's knowledge and agreement) then the paperwork is forged.

Contact the police and the council Animal Inspector.

So much authority on"reputable breeders" even the holy reputable breeders don't all do things the same.

Reputable dealers do indeed do some things differently. However, if there is one thing, and one thing above all, that no ethical dealer will do (except under extremely exceptional circumstances) it's remove pups from the mother/litter until they have a home to go to. That is what puppy farmers and their resellers do and there is no bigger red flag, though there are plenty of others.

Let's be clear. Puppy farmers are not misunderstood, well-meaning people getting an unfair reputation and being slated by hollier-than-though "professional" breeders. They are lower than scum. They have no interest whatsoever in the welfare of the animals. They breed the mothers to exhaustion. They keep them in conditions that you wouldn't tolerate for the hens your eggs come from. When a bitch is no longer economically productive she is destroyed, as cheaply as possible. If a puppy is born with any conditions that might cost for treatment or reduce its sale-ability it is destroyed, as cheaply as possible. If a puppy does not sell quickly enough it is destroyed, as cheaply as possible.

The reason this thread is attracting so many strong comments is because some people are painfully aware of the puppy farming trade, how it operates and the consequences for the animals.

I feel sorry for the OP. She made an honest mistake and it's clear she feels terrible and will learn from this experience. Then there are people like you who feel entitled to counter-opine on something you clearly have absolutely no knowledge of. You are part of the problem.

I'm sorry, OP, but as nearly everyone else has said, please do not offer this pup either back to the dealer you bought it from, or the puppy farmer who bred it. A specific Labrador rescue is the very best bet to find the right home for this puppy, an expensive lesson learned.

I know that it is a minefield, but I honestly despair that the messages on what to avoid are still not getting through to the general public. Some of the puppy farmers and dealers are very clever, but nothing about this set-up did anything but say dealer and farmer.

No reputable breeder would sell a Labrador puppy to someone with a 4 month old baby.

'Eyes and hips checked by vet' or whatever you said is, as someone else pointed out, just mumbo jumbo. All these tests are done by specialists and have specific terminology and clear results.

Anyone selling a puppy from commercial premises - avoid.

Kennel Club paperwork should be handed to you at time of sale. Any other registry than the KC has no more meaning than something you make up and print on your own PC at home.

I'm sure there is lots of other stuff, but anyway ... you know you've made a mistake, just do the right thing by the puppy now.

Both of these are lies that sound legit to laymen but actually mean that the answer is no, you do not have the KC papers and no, the puppy is not from health tested parents.

That ^. Unfortunately you've been had - they've given you nice excuses but you've got no proper health test and no KC paperwork. Don't take the dog back. Swallow the £500 loss because, painful as it is, it's the right thing to do for the dog. You can't risk taking him back because you were suckered into buying him in the first place! Maybe the salesman is very good, or he just knew how to play you.

Take him to a rescue. There's Birmingham dogs home nearby and Many Tears, or the retriever rescue.

This must feel like a tough lesson. Let us know when it's all resolved? I feel for you all (including pup!)

Perhaps Mumsnet would 'sticky' a post on this forum on the best way to go about buying a puppy and how to do your very best to avoid a farmed one?

Hi all, got a very good result here for all involved!
I phoned the man we purchased the pup from and explained the situation but also put pressure on him by questioning the legitimacy of the breeder and raised our concerns.
He seemed to panic a little and didn't have satisfactory answers.

He has offered us a full refund AND is also happy for us to rehome the pup (which will be done after a thorough research of appropriate rehoming centres).

I basically threatened to report him as I was concerned about legitimacy and he must have panicked which is why he offered us the money back. You were definitely right, he is NOT legitimate and I will be reporting him to the veterinary surgery that dealt with puppy's vaccinations and also to the RSPCA and rehoming centre we choose.

Thank god this dog is going to a safe place and has a strong chance of finding a loving forever home. And one more report for a puppy farm!!!

Lesson definitely learned here. I can finally relax knowing puppy will be safe and that man will hopefully be stopped after our reports!! Thank you so much for all of the advice!

Please research where he's going very very carefully. Ideally to a friend who you've seen with all the household interact with the puppy. And don't dare sell it on.

Reread and seen you're going with a rehoming centre. Good.

Great news OP
Also, if you still feel guilty please remember that IF this puppy was a badly socialised farm puppy your sons allergy could have been least of your potential problems.
Our similar breed was from a farm ( unknown but with hindsight) and exhibited some issues that had I had a small child would have meant rehoming so even without the allergy this pup may not have been a good match for your family

Excellent outcome OP. Well done.

I do hope that he honours the promised refund.