Would love your input if you have a minute

[netchick]

Good Morning all. I come to you today to ask your opinion about something regarding my yorkie. Please forgive me if it seems long, I'll try to shorten it up.

We purchased a 2nd yorkie from some wonderful breeders last year at Xmas for 1500.00. when we got the dog home, come to find he had worms. Ok, it was a pain, but no harm done. They did refund our vet bill as it was clearly with the first 2 days.

Few months later, our vet gave our puppy the parvo when he shouldn't have and he had anaphalatic reaction with seizures. He was on valium and the like, and didn't seem like himself for a bit. Our vet seemed clueless at that point, so our wonderful breeders took our puppy for a few days, ran some tests to make sure he was ok, it just took him little while to come out of it. He had some kind of infection and was on antibiotics for couple weeks, but we were sure grateful for our breeders. Our vet was like, oh, he'll be fine, but we were like, no, he's not fine.

Ok, so after about a month or so, we realize the dog is limping on one leg and basically walking on 3 legs. We take him to our wonderful vet and told he has Legge Perthes Disease. So, after having this dog for only 5 months with all this, and him having health guarantee for a year, we decided to return the dog. It broke our heart. They graciously took him back, and she works at a vet office herself, the breeder does. So, after 2 or more months, they give him the surgery, and come to find out, it wasn't legge perthes, he had a hip fracture. Now why no one on breeder end didn't see that on xray, as we gave the films to them. They even stopped their breeding as they thought something was wrong with their line. This dog had champion father and he pranced like a champion himself. Anyway, after 5 months, we were inquiring about the dog and came around to ask for our money back. They kept telling us it was coming, after this or that, and we weren't pushing for it. At one point they did refund 500.00. So, now the other day, we come to find out that we won't get the rest of the money b ack as it wasn't a genetic disease and they paid all this money for his hip fracture surgery. I guess she called our "vet" office and gave them hell as they lead us to believe we had a dog with this problem. It caused us to break the heart of our 8 year old daughter to give dog back. My question is, what would you do? We are out the money and a dog. The vet lead us along this path, then we give dog up, they wait all this time to take care of it, to find it is a fracture. if we knew it was a fracture, we would have taken care of that ourselves and never gave the dog away. They are really nice people and I hate to be a pain. But I would love your input.

I appreciate your time.

[TOY]

I find your story heartbreaking and I honestly do not know how to respond without sounding harsh. However, you did ask for input so I have to believe you truly want an honest answer.

First, let me welcome you to Yorkie Talk and warn you that you may only get a very few responses since this is an unusually personal situation and not one encountered very often. I think many are going to want to answer but will pass on because it requires such a delicate balance of how to respond without seeming judgmental. Clearly your question of what we would do gets to the very core of our ethics and morals as pet owners.

Frankly, what I would have done does not answer your current situation because I would have had my pet insured regardless of a breeder's guarantee. I never want to face a situation where I cannot make the right health decisions for Taffy because of finances and it would unfortunately come to that were we not insured. Taffy's well-being became my responsibility when I bought her and from that point on, nothing short of death could have made me give her up because in my mind's eye, the torch was being passed and from that point on, she was part of our family with all the protection that encompassed.

In your situation it appears that there were professional errors made that could have and should have been avoided. I guarantee you I would have been furious and enraged to the tips of my once red hair. However, neither my husband nor I are the type to sue so short of the error causing my pet's death unnecessarily, I would not even entertain the thought of a lawsuit even though it would be tempting. My fury would have been caused by the pain and suffering my pet suffered without cause.

You did not mention your daughter's age. I hope she was old enough to process the situation enough to realize that were it her who was injured or defective, you would not surrender her. Having worked with children for 30 years, I learned they can perceive things very differently from what we see as adults. If she is still grieving over the loss and you have the option, I would try to get the puppy back. However, the puppy may have bonded with the breeders and with their invested time of nursing it back to health, they may not want to give it up.

My distress at this point would be that my pet suffered so much prior to being treated. I have such anger over that and I'm not even personally involved. I find it inhumane quite frankly and cannot comprehend why it wasn't resolved earlier. It causes my heart to hurt to think of the pain that baby went through...which brings me to what I would do now if I were you.

I would try my best to discover where the puppy's best interests lay and act accordingly. If the bond was still the greatest with my family, I would do my best to reestablish ownership. However, if the puppy has settled in with the new household or has perhaps even bonded with yet a different caregiver, I would let it stand. If it's the money that's the issue, see if you can perhaps write it off as a loss on taxes. I really don't know if that's possible or not but broken hearts trump money anytime in my book...even in tough financial times. I don't see your recovery of the money as viable short of a lawsuit and frankly, I wouldn't want my daughter witnessing such.

[kjc]

If I was in that situation and I wanted the dog back, I would offer the breeder the $500.00 refund back, and offer to pay for the fracture surgery, in exchange for the dog. Then talk to a lawyer about how the vet's misdiagnosis caused this chain of events.

[tjdmom]

Would the breeder be willing to let you have the dog back if you gave them back the $500 and paid for the fracture surgery? That's what I would try for...

[JeanieK]

I agree, I would try to work with the breeder to get the dog back. Is this dog tiny?

The breeder did what was right for the dog.

[vlccairo]

I am so sad for you and this little pup. Toy, as usual, has written a very wise response. Whatever you decide to do, I think you need a different vet. This one seems to be undereducated about dogs, at least.

[iueled09]

I would ABSOLUTELY get a new vet, right away!!!!

[Little Bit]

My question is how did the fracture happen?? Unless I read wrong, it sounds like something that happened after you got him.

[PiePiper]

First of all I would get a new vet. I don't think I would ever trust that vet with the care of your baby. I bought my Piper from a breeder and at 8 months she started carrying her hind leg. I immediately brought her to the vets and she was X-rayed and it was discovered that she had Legg Perthes. I paid $1800 for her and didn't think twice about how much the surgery was going to be. Piper was in pain and it was up to me (not my breeder) to make sure she got the best vet care regardless of the cost. As soon as you brought your baby into your home you make a commitment to meet all her needs and sometimes that means $$$$$$$. In my case I didn't even ask how much the surgery was going to be. There was nothing to think about the surgery needed to be done. I was pleasantly surprised when I picked Piper up and paid the bill. It was only $900, it could of been so much more money. After the surgery I did inform the breeder of the matter and she did send me some money towards it.

[YorkieShadow]

First Id get a new vet. Id also let people know about him.

If you loved and want the dog back I would offer her the $500. back and pay for its surgery. the breeder did right taking him back 2 times and getting him the care he needed but I wonder why it took her 2 months, poor pup.. and Im glad she called your vet and told him about it, I would be telling him too.

[mnewco]

Sounds like the vet needs to be sued for all expenses so you can get your dog back.

[ladyjane]

The breeder is telling you it was not Legg-Perthes. Do you have proof of that?