If someone takes a deposit, it is considered a verbal contract between the two parties. If the buyer back out (assuming the puppy is healthy), there should be no refund. Let's think about this, upon receiving a deposit, the puppy would be taken off the market. It’s only fair for the buyer to follow thru.
If the breeder has expressed she/he might not sell a certain puppy and the buyer still want to put down a deposit to save her/his place in the possibility of getting the puppy, the breeder should be free to cancel the deal anytime and just return the deposit. On the other hand, if there is no pre-agreement about uncertainty of a sell, the breeder should not be able to back out without financial loss either – though this is not typically agreed upon.
IMO, what’s fair is fair. A deposit represents a commitment between two parties therefore no one should suffer a lost without proper compensation. If the sell is not guaranteed (for either party), what’s the point of having a deposit?
On the side note, my breeder wouldn’t take a deposit from me because she didn’t want to guarantee the sell (we live in different state). She told me that if she doesn’t feel comfortable with me when we meet in person, she won’t let me have her puppy. Mind you that she drove 5 hours to meet me half way (after many phone conversations) without making a commitment but listed her puppy as “sold” with my name next to my puppy’s photo on her website days before our meeting (as soon as we set the date). She really has her puppy’s best interests in heart as the breeder members here on YT
.
Sorry for the long post. I didn’t mean to write a book.
