Responsible breeders do it differently.... I cannot believe that people still will ship animals this way, and I was so sorry to hear of this story. Of course, "people" is used loosely in this comment, as there are other things I would call someone that runs one of these operations.
However, I can tell you that sometimes you do buy dogs sight unseen. I bought my last German Shepherd pup this way, and he is a joy to have. I had searched throughout my surrounding states and could not find exactly what I was looking for. After much research and several valued recommendations, I found a breeder in Connecticut. I was required to complete an interview on the web, then further interviews between us by phone, as well as a webcam conference. The breeder then recommended which pup from the litter would be the best fit for our family at the time, after contacting my vet for a reference check. From the very beginning it was understood that I would be required to pay for a first class ticket for my pup on an airline that had facilities for his crate in the seating section of the plane, and that he would ONLY be ticketed for a non-stop flight. The closest terminal for this was Greenville SC, about a 2 hour drive from my home.
Due to her diligence, he arrived on time, safe and sound, alert, with food and water intact in his crate and I suspect given treats during the flight by the attendants watching over him...lol. Yes, it cost me. Was it worth it? Every penny. |