Beeders responsibility when there is a sick puppy
 

Hi I am looking for opinions/what would you do responses. As you may or may not know I recently got Dixie from a reputable breeder. I have had her almost 4 weeks and she was just diagnosed with congenital advanced kidney failure and her outcome is unknown at this time. She will require medicine costing 100.00 a month for life to treat her if that is an option. There is no way the breeder knew this or would have sold her if she knew. The breeder had been very supportive and I have had no eperience in what the right thing to do in this situation.
My questiosn are she offered to take Dixie back and replace her, not an option for me as I love her and will do everything in my power to help her. I do not have a contract , so I am not sure what the policy is. I know I should have gotten a contract but the breeder is responding very favorably and I really know she wants to make this right.
So I have not discussed what I would like her to do yet with her until we get the final tests in to see if Dixie can be treated.
I do not want to go into details of what she has offered but I have a few questions.
Do you as breeders ever give a monetary refund, full or partial?
If I take an offer of a future puppy, without returning the sick one I would feel like that wouldn't be fair to the breeder as I opted to keep Dixie in spite of her being so sick.
Sorry this is kind of rambling but I have no experience in this and want to be fair to me and the breeder. She is no way would have let Dixie go had she known this. Thanks so much.

pup
 

This is what I would and have done...you have the option to keep the puppy, assume all expenses and I would return your purchase price 100%..or you could return the puppy and have a full refund of purchase price...I would not promise another puppy, as it is impossible for the breeder to know if they will breed again, have a suitable puppy etc...I, perfer the situation settled instead of waiting for more puppies etc. that is when the bueyr gets cheated sometimes, waiting...if at some point if you wanted another one of my puppies,, then I would give you a reduced price to compensate for some of the vet expenses with the sick pup...that is all I can do ... I am human.

same here!!

Thanks that sounds very fair. I would prefer the refund but didn't know if that was fair to the breeder as I will not return Dixie. Also I have no idea when I would be ready for another puppy since I have 4 dogs right now. I absolutely want to do the fair thing for both the breeder and me as she has been wonderful and feels as badly as I do.

What Pat has mentioned sounds like the best option and what I would do. Very fair, IMO.:) :thumbup:

pup
 

No, money-wise it is not fair to the breeder..but that is the position an ethcial breeder takes from the onset..there will be losses money-wise in order to breed with a good reputaton...
When you read some contracts that state the buyer has a 3 day guarantee and then it is your tough luck, only protects the breeders pocketbook, not the buyer...any ethical, caring breeder who found out a puppy had a shunt or genetic problem would want to make it right, EVEN after 3 days. am I not right?

I would want to give the money back and the buyers keep the puppy, unless they wanted to give the pup back or wanted another puppy. If I replaced the puppy, the buyer would also keep the first puppy. I feel that if you are buying a Yorkie, you are making a purchase for a healthy dog that will live a full life and not just a couple of months. I dont want to sell a heartache.

This is what I would do also.

This is also what is on my contract....I would want to do what is best for the puppy and the buyer.

Patti...I just wanted to say I am so sorry to hear about Dixie. :( How very heartbreaking. Big hugs for you and her.

Sounds like you have an conscientious breeder and will be able to come to some agreement.

I'll keep Dixie in my prayers.

I also think, money-wise, it is not fair to the buyer. You certainly didn't plan on something like this. Life long ongoing monthly vet bills (that is the position I am now in). Also, I wonder if you did return the puppy, what is the breeder going to do with it. Then she would be "stuck" with the vet bills.
I wish you the best of luck!