Was sold a sick pup and now stuck with vet bills

[Mommyof3]

I bought lorelai in July and the day I picked her up I noticed her coughing and such...I told the owner (not the breeder) who owns the pet store (she is reputable..) and she offered to pay for the vet visits and such. So I took her to her vet, where she takes all the pups for their shots and check ups because she swore he was the best vet around. We long story short, two months later after being on clavamox, her white blood count was still extremely high and I spoke with the owner of the store about it and she said that she had been talking to the vet about my case and "they" concluded that it was allergies.

If it were allergies (which I understand may cause some of the spasms she has), but her white blood count would not high. So I took her to my vet, which by the way, is super expensive, but the only place I know close to home and I trust the doctor..It's been probably 6 weeks now that I have been going to her and she has been on baytril and it has helped tons...But we have been taking xrays to make sure it hasnt turned into pnemonia...OH and by the way with her first visit at my vets, we took another xray and she found cronic broncitis...I dont know if the other vet just didnt see it or if she got it two weeks after. ANYHOW over the past 6 weeks with my vet I have accrude over $1000 in vet bills with the new meds and xrays and blood counts. ugh. Its getting really discouraging to even take her to get checked to make sure things are progressing in the right direction. I want to confront the lady I bought her from but I dont have the personality too and I would feel bad and awkward (I hate awkward situations) especially since I spend and have spent LOTS of money at her store over the past year or so. Darn dogs are spoiled as heck. What do you guys suggest I do, or say??? I had to change my wedding photographer to a cheaper one because I can't afford them anylonger because of the vet bill. RIDICULOUS!

Any suggestions will help Thank you

[Nancy1999]

Well, I hope your new vet has helped, the problem with using the vet that the pet store recommends, is that they probably are working together saying that it's nothing the breeder or pet store did. I don't think you should buy a pet from a pet store because no reputable breeder would sell one to a pet store. They want to have some say-so into where their puppies will go. One of the things you have to learn in life is to confront people who you believe have taken advantage of a situation. I don't think many people are born with the personality to do this; it's just something we need to learn. You can be very polite and still speak up. Con artists depend upon people not speaking up, and remember when you speak up, you are not only helping yourself, but you are also helping other people because maybe they con artist will find it's no longer worth it to cheat people. You can try writing a letter and sending the bills, if she doesn't think she should pay, you can also sue her in small claims court. I think I would sue her vet as well, he should have caught the infection, and not treating it promptly could cause serious long-term problems. Sometimes, they will settle just because they don't want to spend the day in court. Did you get any sort of contract when you bought the puppy? Perhaps saying that you'll split the bills 50% might get you better results. If you take them to court ask for 100% though. By the way, does you vet say that she has allergies, or does he think it was bronchitis all along?

[bj1]

I totally agree with what Nacy1999 said.

[livingdustmops]

California has Puppy Lemon Laws and these sites might help you. I don't know if they will but it might.

Dog-Play: Getting a Dog Tips - California's Puppy Lemon Law

California "Puppy Lemon Law"

Lemon Laws for Dogs

Please remember, you could be helping yourself but also many other dogs that go through these people who are sick.

[lovespandp]

Nancy- You are just GREAT! You really do give out some great advice!!

Brianna- Suck it up and go tell that lady whats going on! You need to. She needs to know. And she needs to pay for some of this.. thats what she told you before anyways, Nancy gave you some great advice!!

[redvalaria]

Hmmm

you bought a puppy at the same place you buy dog bowls and sweaters?

and you are surprised at the outcome?

Ok, I have to agree with everything nancy said and at the same time take it a step further and ask you if maybe, just maybe you have learned something here?

Puppy mills turn out thousands of sickly, genetically weak and damaged animals mostly they turn them over to pet stores and wholesalers on the internet. You are not the first to come on here and have a story of a sick puppy and bad treatment through a pet store.

What I would say is this: Buck up and confront the pet store owner. Certainly they aren't the only place you can buy dog supplies! Insist on them providing you with a healthy animal or funding the costs of making her that.

And while you are at it, ask where, specifically this puppy came from. It will most likely be a midwestern puppy mill. Find out the exact source, do research on THEM. Maybe it will change the way you view petstores.

[Bianca]

Originally Posted by redvalaria

Hmmm

you bought a puppy at the same place you buy dog bowls and sweaters?

and you are surprised at the outcome?

Ok, I have to agree with everything nancy said and at the same time take it a step further and ask you if maybe, just maybe you have learned something here?

Puppy mills turn out thousands of sickly, genetically weak and damaged animals mostly they turn them over to pet stores and wholesalers on the internet. You are not the first to come on here and have a story of a sick puppy and bad treatment through a pet store.

What I would say is this: Buck up and confront the pet store owner. Certainly they aren't the only place you can buy dog supplies! Insist on them providing you with a healthy animal or funding the costs of making her that.

And while you are at it, ask where, specifically this puppy came from. It will most likely be a midwestern puppy mill. Find out the exact source, do research on THEM. Maybe it will change the way you view petstores.

Excuse me , but I need to say something here. I also bought my puppy 4 yrs ago from a pet-store and I can assure you I didn't know about puppy-mills, BYB , brokers or anything else.. Was I stupid, no, just didn't know. I was surprised at the outcome 4 yrs ago so yes maybe she is also.
Don't assume everyone knows about puppy-mills , I didn't that is why I give most the benefit of the doubt.
We need to teach with our experience and guide people in the right direction, not making assumptions and what I feel are sarcastic remarks.
Ask me anything pertaining to dogs and breeders and where to go and what to look for and I know it, but 4yrs ago I didn't.
Thank You

[Patti]

When I brought Cali home she had kennel cough (bought from a back yard breeder) and gave it to my then 8 year old pom and they had it for over 3 months. It finally cleared up after that. Cali was one sick puppy, liver shunt, allergies, tummy problems hypoglycemic, you don't even want to know what I spent on her vet bills! So I totally understand, I let the breeder know she had the liver problem and the many vet bills I had and she never offered to help, and I only had a 48 hour guarantee, this was before I found YT and I had had Yorkies before so you can learn a lot from here. I would try and see if they will help with the vet bills, and try putting her in a steamy bathroom to help with the congestion. I thought mine would never get over it but they did.
I know your wedding pictures will turn out beautiful no matter what and lorelai will have a great home.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Bianca

Excuse me , but I need to say something here. I also bought my puppy 4 yrs ago from a pet-store and I can assure you I didn't know about puppy-mills, BYB , brokers or anything else.. Was I stupid, no, just didn't know. I was surprised at the outcome 4 yrs ago so yes maybe she is also.
Don't assume everyone knows about puppy-mills , I didn't that is why I give most the benefit of the doubt.
We need to teach with our experience and guide people in the right direction, not making assumptions and what I feel are sarcastic remarks.
Ask me anything pertaining to dogs and breeders and where to go and what to look for and I know it, but 4yrs ago I didn't.
Thank You

You are so right.........years ago, there for the grace of God go I. My first yorkie I found the the newspaper, the 2nd I bought at a flea market. The aveage person doesn't have knowledge of BYBers and Puppy Mills, Pet Stores, etc. We just know that we want a Yorkie. So, it's no use to chastize the OPer she needs help.

There are California Lemon laws. You have all the vet bills and documentation concerning your wee one's illinessess, the Pet Shop is responsible for them.....print them out and take them with you. Show them to the owner.

[redvalaria]

well, maybe its me, then.

because every other day is an article in the news, a tv story, or some other information about back yard breeders, puppy mills and the like.

How could you exist in OUR WORLD of internet, twitter, mass communications and NOT KNOW about puppy mills? It seems to me they are firmly out of the closet, known to quite a lot of the world. 60 minutes does another piece about them about every quarter...as do the other news outlets.

There are shows on all the cable networks about rescue groups and the detrimental aspects of bad breeding, so, it still astounds me that people walk into pet stores and buy dogs.

A gerbil, maybe, but a dog?

I still don't get it. More to the point, everyone acts all shocked and surprised that they didn't get a "high quality pet" from these sources.

[Love_Capone]

Originally Posted by redvalaria

well, maybe its me, then.

because every other day is an article in the news, a tv story, or some other information about back yard breeders, puppy mills and the like.

How could you exist in OUR WORLD of internet, twitter, mass communications and NOT KNOW about puppy mills? It seems to me they are firmly out of the closet, known to quite a lot of the world. 60 minutes does another piece about them about every quarter...as do the other news outlets.

There are shows on all the cable networks about rescue groups and the detrimental aspects of bad breeding, so, it still astounds me that people walk into pet stores and buy dogs.

A gerbil, maybe, but a dog?

I still don't get it. More to the point, everyone acts all shocked and surprised that they didn't get a "high quality pet" from these sources.

Things like that catch your attention because you know about it. I never knew that pet stores were bad, but luckily I didn't go with the pet store. When I got my dog I researched and came across things about what the breeder should do, but never did I read pet stores are bad.

Anywho, shes asking about her vet bills. I definitely think you should look into the lemon laws and confront the pet store and see what could be done.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by redvalaria

well, maybe its me, then.

because every other day is an article in the news, a tv story, or some other information about back yard breeders, puppy mills and the like.

How could you exist in OUR WORLD of internet, twitter, mass communications and NOT KNOW about puppy mills? It seems to me they are firmly out of the closet, known to quite a lot of the world. 60 minutes does another piece about them about every quarter...as do the other news outlets.

There are shows on all the cable networks about rescue groups and the detrimental aspects of bad breeding, so, it still astounds me that people walk into pet stores and buy dogs.

A gerbil, maybe, but a dog?

I still don't get it. More to the point, everyone acts all shocked and surprised that they didn't get a "high quality pet" from these sources.

Just let me say this is time to be offering this person assistance, I'm sure she's already kicking herself all over the place and doesn't need additional bruises from us.

Let me just say that before my journey with yorkies, I was an exectutive for a communications company GTE/now Verizon.....I worked every day with cable, cell phones, land lines, computers I knew nothing........and unless you're immersed in the world of dogs, you may see all that stuff on rescues, animal shelters, but when it comes right down to buying a dog/yorkie.....a cute face will get you every time.

Case in point, I was in a pet store this last weekend......a couple and their daughter were in there looking at the yorkies. These people were very well dressed, spoken and from the looks of the car they got out of, not hurting for money. They were going to buy a yorkie, until I quietly spoke to them explaining where these pups came from and what they would be supporting.
Think about it all these big stars......they go into a pet store and put down big bugs for a Puppy Mill Dog.....shouldn't they know better, yep, but they don't.

[Mommyof3]

Originally Posted by redvalaria

well, maybe its me, then.

because every other day is an article in the news, a tv story, or some other information about back yard breeders, puppy mills and the like.

How could you exist in OUR WORLD of internet, twitter, mass communications and NOT KNOW about puppy mills? It seems to me they are firmly out of the closet, known to quite a lot of the world. 60 minutes does another piece about them about every quarter...as do the other news outlets.

There are shows on all the cable networks about rescue groups and the detrimental aspects of bad breeding, so, it still astounds me that people walk into pet stores and buy dogs.

A gerbil, maybe, but a dog?

I still don't get it. More to the point, everyone acts all shocked and surprised that they didn't get a "high quality pet" from these sources.

I would just like to inform you that I was sold the puppy reassuring that its from a breeder that she works with and she has 8 yorkies of her own...that she brings to work with her. I have seen her deny people who are willing to buy a puppy because she didnt see them fit as parents. SO honestly, I thought I could trust her. Quite honestly, she could totally be fine when i tell her about the bills and pay them, I dont know. I didnt come on here to be lectured about puppy mills though- just advice with how to bring it up to the owner...

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Bianca

Excuse me , but I need to say something here. I also bought my puppy 4 yrs ago from a pet-store and I can assure you I didn't know about puppy-mills, BYB , brokers or anything else.. Was I stupid, no, just didn't know. I was surprised at the outcome 4 yrs ago so yes maybe she is also.
Don't assume everyone knows about puppy-mills , I didn't that is why I give most the benefit of the doubt.
We need to teach with our experience and guide people in the right direction, not making assumptions and what I feel are sarcastic remarks.
Ask me anything pertaining to dogs and breeders and where to go and what to look for and I know it, but 4yrs ago I didn't.
Thank You

I agree. I also got Peanut from a pet store, I knew the lady she would bring her dogs in to the vet I worked at. So I was friends with her and she owned her own pet store. I had NO idea of puppy mills either. So redvalaria maybe you shouldnt be too hard on people. this site is to help and give advice not judge and be snotty.

[Mommyof3]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

I agree. I also got Peanut from a pet store, I knew the lady she would bring her dogs in to the vet I worked at. So I was friends with her and she owned her own pet store. I had NO idea of puppy mills either. So redvalaria maybe you shouldnt be too hard on people. this site is to help and give advice not judge and be snotty.