I sold a puppy with a 5 day money back gaurantee. She waited 2 weeks. Do I owe her?

Question

She claims that the puppy died of Parvo. But the strain she says he had takes 14 days to show up. She had him for 20 days, then claims she took it to the vet because he was sick. She also said it had severe case of worms. Now she wants to keep the puppy, get a full refund AND pay 1/2 her vet bill!
Am I liable? I have the gaurantee in writing. Every other person who took a pup from that litter has called to tell me how perfect & Healthy their pup is. One family even said their vet was shocked that a pup under 4 months had NO worms. If no other pup or Mom has parvo and I have 5 other dogs that also don't have parvo, could that one have gotten it before leaving me? Could 1 pup have "a severe case of worms" but no others? She also said it was flea infested, no others were. So, do I owe her anything?
I'm calling her vet tomorrow & mine who examined mom & pups at 2 days old.

To clarify the "5 DAY RULE" IT STATES THAT "YOU MUST TAKE THE PUP TO THE VET WITHIN 5 DAYS AND GET IT IT'S SHOTS WHEN DUE! IF THE VET FINDS ANY PROBLEMS, I GIVE A NEW PUP OR REFUND"
Also, I researched parvo and the incubation period is 4 to 14 days. She got it on July 5th & said that the pup died yesterday w/out prior symptoms. She wants to keep the pup so I CANNOT get an autopsy. I contacted all the other buyers from that litter & NOT ONE had a bad vet report.

Answer 1

After reading the details, it's clear that you have done nothing wrong. I wouldn't give her a penny & if she tries to sue, counter sue for your time, lawyer fees if any and, if she starts telling people that you are a bad breeder, I'd file a suit for defamation & loss of income. She sounds psycho so I doubt you can reason with her. Get a letter from your vet & send it to her & leave it at that.


This is for the idiot who said
"I think you are both at fault. You were irresponsible in not getting the puppy vet checked and vaccinated before it left your home.
She was irresponsible for buying a puppy from someone like you who does not even take those sort of precautions and then herself not taking the puppy to the vet for a health check and vaccinations.
You get what you pay for. She bought a puppy from a backyard breeder and is now paying for it. Guess she learned her lesson." Did the person not read the part about you taking the mom & pups to your vet at 2 DAYS OLD?? WHY CAN'T PEOPLE READ THE WHOLE QUESTION AND DETAILS BEFORE MAKING STUPID COMMENTS & FALSE ALLEGATIONS??!

Answer 2

since you have the guarantee in writing no you don't owe her that is her own fault if she signed the paperwork. I would never purchase a puppy without a longer guarentee, though. I would never try to get my money back on parvo either. parvo is something that just happens not your fault entirely. the only way i would try to get my money back is if it was something to do with inbreeding, bloodline illness etc. something that should have been tested before the mother dog was even bred. parvo just happens. and as an new owner a majority of dogs are since the dog was out of your home even if you would have vaccinated then the woman should have completed the vaccinations when she recieved the puppy. this woman don't know too much about dogs if you ask me. because dogs get fleas,worms,ticks,parasites etc. yes it is a responsibility of the breeder also but it also could have been her fault with the fleas and worms 20 days is almost a month.

since the fact that the other puppies don't have parvo and the puppy she bought just happen to get parvo i would say it got it from where ever she may have brought the dog to any way i'm gone now before i take up the entire space. good luck

Answer 3

first you said it died, but then you said she wants to keep the dog? ?????
Anyways, yes its possible for the dog to have worms and another not... Worms are usually from fleas and some animals get them, some dont. I would offer to pay 1/2 the vet bill but explain she signed a contract and your sorry but she had 5 days to get a refund.. if I bought a pup that was infested with fleas and had worms I would immediately take it back and I'm sure most people would or at least complain immediately. So do the right thing, apologize and offer either a partial refund or 1/2 the vet bill, NOT BOTH

Answer 4

Your guarantee stated 5 days so under the law you are not liable as long as they signed the contract. If nobody else got Parvo it shouldn't have come from your house. What do you mean she wants to keep the pup? If it has died then the vet should have done a postmortem (sounds like this was done) and can tell what was wrong. I would have your vet on a conference call with her vet when you call tomorrow. Most breeders will give a year guarantee but they also require the buyer to have a health check within 48 hours.

Answer 5

You owe her nothing! She took the puppy she wanted and she knew that the guarantee was for 5 days. You are doing the right thing by calling the Vet just to satisfy your curiosity. What she should have done was brought the sick pup back so you could have had it examined by your vet, instead she waited too long so she has no leg to stand on. Don't give it another thought. Oh, by the way where is the puppies remains. I feel bad for her but I would never sell her another one of my puppies again. She's trouble with a capital T.

Answer 6

Parvo is spread through cats. And why would she still want the dog if she said it died from parvo???? If you gave her a 5 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!! Then I don't think that you owe her any of the cost of the dog. If you want to help her out with half of the vet bill go ahead, but even Judge Judy wouldn't give her thedog, the money, plus half the vet bills. Do what you feel is right and just. Since she waited until after the 5 days you don't owe her any of that money.

Answer 7

I thought you said the puppy died of parvo, yet you go on to say she wants to keep the puppy, get a full refund, you pay half the vet bill? She sounds like trouble to me! Make her an offer only after talking to her vet. Find out the date the puppy was seen, what treatment it was given, the condition of the pup when it was seen, etc., If she insists you pay half the vet bill, require her to submit a copy of the entire bill to you for consideration. You could: offer to take the puppy back (if it's still alive), with no refund, and only a portion of her vet bill. Or deduct her refund from the vet bill and she keeps the pup. Like I said she sounds like trouble and could jeopardize anyone buying pups from you in the future.

Answer 8

Its highly doubtful the puppy got parvo while in ur care if no other dogs are sick. And I think if you only gave a five day gaurantee then you don't owe her anything after 20 days especially if the puppy was healthy when you sold it to her. and she was satistfied until she got her vet bill or she would have called you sooner. Think the ladies just trying to get something for nothing. After all if you get a money back gaurantee on anything in a store you can't wait 15 days after it expires to return it heck you can't even wait 2 minutes after the deadline they'd laugh you outta the store these days.

Answer 9

If she decided to take you to court and can prove her allegations, you may have to compensate her. Not all states will honor your contract and under the lemon laws may give her more than your 5 days, seeing that as inadequate. Maybe consult an lawyer, or wait and see if she tries suing you. ask for the copies of the vet bills AND reports. Find out exactly what her vet will testify to. Most of the time, vets will hedge aroun directly saying where a puppy got an illness because it is so hard to prove. Check the lemon laws in your state and make sure your contract fits with it, or this could become commonplace for you!!!!!!

Answer 10

You say the puppy died, then you say she wants to keep the puppy! Is the puppy alive or dead?....Regardless, you are not responsible for the puppy. You had a 5 day warranty. After the 5 days, the puppy is no longer your responsibility. I had puppies and sold one to my neighbor...I offered to give the puppy his shots at 10 and 14 weeks old (I gave him his first shot before he went to his new home)...the puppy died at 13 weeks old...the new owner wanted her money back...I called my vet (who happened to be her vet also) and asked what the incubation period for parvo was...7-10 days...I asked him if there was ANY way he could have had it before she picked him up at 6 weeks...he said no way! If she had this puppy more than 10 days, the puppy contracted it in her care....We also just purchased (in early April) a Great Dane puppy....he was sneezing and had a green snotty nose when we brought him home....as responsible pet owners, we took him to the vet the next day and spent $75.00 on him....the breeder never offered to pay for his care, or offer to exchange him....we did not argue....we have a beautiful new member in our family!

If you deside to return her money (assuming the puppy is alive), you get the puppy back...I'd only offer 1/2 of the money (you don't know if the puppy is sick) and non (or 1/2) the medical bills....your choice.

As a responsible pet owner, it is your (their) responsibility to care for the animal they chose to share their home with.
I have added the link that I found on parvo....Good luck
http://www.workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm

Answer 11

you are only required to live up to the time frame that is on your contract, unless it is obvious that you sold a sick puppy. In your case it is not obvious.

If puppy was active and eating well when it left, and didn't get sick until after the 5 days were up, you didn't knowingly sell a sick pup. but, did you vaccinate?

sometimes a puppy will have worms when the others don't, because it vomited the worm medicine.