I find your story heartbreaking and I honestly do not know how to respond without sounding harsh. However, you did ask for input so I have to believe you truly want an honest answer.
First, let me welcome you to Yorkie Talk and warn you that you may only get a very few responses since this is an unusually personal situation and not one encountered very often. I think many are going to want to answer but will pass on because it requires such a delicate balance of how to respond without seeming judgmental. Clearly your question of what we would do gets to the very core of our ethics and morals as pet owners.
Frankly, what I would have done does not answer your current situation because I would have had my pet insured regardless of a breeder's guarantee. I never want to face a situation where I cannot make the right health decisions for Taffy because of finances and it would unfortunately come to that were we not insured. Taffy's well-being became my responsibility when I bought her and from that point on, nothing short of death could have made me give her up because in my mind's eye, the torch was being passed and from that point on, she was part of our family with all the protection that encompassed.
In your situation it appears that there were professional errors made that could have and should have been avoided. I guarantee you I would have been furious and enraged to the tips of my once red hair. However, neither my husband nor I are the type to sue so short of the error causing my pet's death unnecessarily, I would not even entertain the thought of a lawsuit even though it would be tempting. My fury would have been caused by the pain and suffering my pet suffered without cause.
You did not mention your daughter's age. I hope she was old enough to process the situation enough to realize that were it her who was injured or defective, you would not surrender her. Having worked with children for 30 years, I learned they can perceive things very differently from what we see as adults. If she is still grieving over the loss and you have the option, I would try to get the puppy back. However, the puppy may have bonded with the breeders and with their invested time of nursing it back to health, they may not want to give it up.
My distress at this point would be that my pet suffered so much prior to being treated. I have such anger over that and I'm not even personally involved. I find it inhumane quite frankly and cannot comprehend why it wasn't resolved earlier. It causes my heart to hurt to think of the pain that baby went through...which brings me to what I would do now if I were you.
I would try my best to discover where the puppy's best interests lay and act accordingly. If the bond was still the greatest with my family, I would do my best to reestablish ownership. However, if the puppy has settled in with the new household or has perhaps even bonded with yet a different caregiver, I would let it stand. If it's the money that's the issue, see if you can perhaps write it off as a loss on taxes. I really don't know if that's possible or not but broken hearts trump money anytime in my book...even in tough financial times. I don't see your recovery of the money as viable short of a lawsuit and frankly, I wouldn't want my daughter witnessing such. |