I saw a
post on Facebook recently from a friend who had several experiences with buyer
in direct breach of the contracts they signed when they purchased their
puppies. I wanted to share this to give puppy buyers a little bit of insight
into why breeders have so many clauses in their contracts. Some may seem insignificant or silly, but
they are all there for the protection of the dog, and that’s what’s important
to a breeder (and should be to a buyer and owner). Furthermore I would like to state for the record that my puppy contract is upwards of 10 page and I feel like after reading the story below I need to go back and add some things!
“Recently I made a post regarding a
prospective puppy family having issues with our contract we have in place for
anyone who would like one of our puppies. This family chose not to get one of
our puppies due to me not being lenient with the stipulations of it. And it
worked out amazingly considering this puppy has a wonderful family that adores
him. However, it is funny how that all kind of came full circle today. With
this particular situation, the family asked me to change a clause that states
that if at any time the buyer can no longer keep the dog or no longer wants to,
the dog comes back to us. They asked me to add immediate family to that clause.
I was okay with that. Then I was asked to omit the part of our contract that
states that if they violate any part of our contract, there is monetary
penalties that will be enforced, also the part that states that if authorities
have to seize the dog for any reason, or if I have to go take possession of the
dog, the buyers are responsible for all of my costs. I would not do that, deal
off. So here is why reputable breeders have these contracts. Today, I pulled a
dog from our local shelter that was purchased from a very, reputable breeder in
Oregon, by someone in California, 3 years ago. Not only does this breeder have
a strict contract in place, they just spoke with this puppy family a few months
ago and they were very happy with their dog, told them how much the family
loved him, etc. Well, life took a turn, as it often does, and rather than
contact the breeder like they are legally, and ethically, supposed to do, they
gave it to a family member here in Idaho (which is why I will remove the
immediate family part of my contract again). Some issues occurred with the dog
and they could no longer keep him either. So there he sat at the shelter.
Arrangements were being made to send him to a rescue but luckily we were able
to step in, do some homework and get him back where he belongs. He didn't
deserve to be at the shelter for the last 15-20 days. This is a case of a bad
buyer. The best breeders do all they can to keep tabs on their puppies but some
slip through the cracks. But how awesome are they that they instantly are
jumping to action and being accountable for their dog. This scenario is not
only no fault of the breeder's, but what gives breeders bad names. We put our
heart and soul into what we do. So for one of our babies to end up in a
shelter, is our worst nightmare.
Scenario 2: I currently have a dog at the
kennel whose owners are getting a divorce. AFTER the dog comes in for what I
was told was to be a weekend, I find out that they are arguing about who is
going to do what with the dog. One spouse moves into an apartment that does not
allow pets, the other doesn't know what to do with her either. Yet, neither of
them will sign the dog over to me so I can find her a suitable home. So there
she sits in a kennel for 2 weeks and counting. And I have no choice but to wait
until I get word from one of them My
contract, which luckily I high jacked (with permission) from someone who did
all the hard work LOL, states that our puppy is not to be held in litigation in
a situation like this and if so, the dog comes back to me.
So as you can see, yep, we are a bit
strict, odd, strange, protective, obsessive, paranoid, you get the idea, this
is why. We care. Not only do we do everything possible to make sure our dogs do
not end up in a bad situation, but we also step in and help others who may have
been blindsided. We work together, with each other, with rescues, with
shelters, etc.”
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