What a great thread, and a perfect opp for me to post on this...I have a problem with impulse puppy buyers. I don't like to place a pup in these situations and I won't to the best of my knowledge. They see a cute yorkie and bam! they want one now!
Usually in a situation like that, they havent done their research and have no clue all that is involved with caring for a dog. The problem is that some people can slip right through this and you won't even catch it.
Example: I placed a pup ealiar this yr that was a replacement pup to me for a boy I had that passed away. My breeder stood behind her end and gave me a replacement. However, the replacement was not to my liking as far as putting this paticular dog into my program. Health wasn't an issue, there were just some faults I did not want. Didnt mean the pup didnt deserve a great life...So i placed it with a family who had been in contact with me for some time. I felt that this family knew what they really wanted as they had been asking about a puppy for quite some time. After some time with no complaints on their end, i felt this all worked out for the best..
I got a phone call few days ago, left on my answering maching, saying that they "weren't real happy with the dog" and that they would like to know if there was any way i could "change" their limited reg so that they could sell the dog. (why they would want this done is beyond me at this time) Mistake number one in my book is the admission of wanting to sale this puppy. I have called them several times now and have not been able to get an answer or another call back. VERY STRANGE.
They signed a contract with me stating that this puppy was not being sold to them for re-sale purposes.That if they could not keep this dog for any reason throughout it's life that it would be returned to me. Of course I can't change the reg for them and even if i could heck no i wouldnt! But now I am faced with the fact that I feel they do intend to sale this puppy after having it for several months. My main concern for any puppy that I place is to know for sure that it is in good hands and that it is being taken care of by someone who truly wants it. What would you do? Would you stand behind the contract and order them to hand this puppy back over to you? This could result in a small claims suit, which I am in no state of mind to deal with at this paticular time...in any other situation i would be there with bells on if it were for the protection of a dog. My main concern here is for the well being of this puppy. I want to know that it is with good people who will love and care for it. I dont understand them calling me, leaving me that message (which i saved) and then not being able to contact them back. I also have a problem with the statement "we're not not real happy with the dog" because this leads me to think that if they aren't happy with it, that it may not be being treated as it should. Does this make sense to anyone?
So, is this an en-forcable part of a puppy contract? What steps should be taken now? I have a few ideas of my own, but i'm up for any of your input. |