Has anyone out there been harrassed by a breeder?

Question

Has anyone been harrassed by a dog or cat breeder? And if so, why?

I definately have been for the last year and a half. It's been absolutely horrible, but I think that the worst part about it is not knowing why this is happening. Not knowing what I have done wrong to this woman, when she is the one who wronged us. Very very confused!

Any questions to me are welcome. . .

Well to start, this was a good friend of the family for 10 years or so. My mother happens to be a very naive good hearted woman who decided that out of generosity she would allow this woman to puchase one of our female cats as a pet. Unfortunately no contracts were drawn, since this was a good friend (Hence our error) and it was agreed that she would make payments on the cat and that she would not recieve the Registration papers for the cat until we saw her proof of spay. At the time she said that the Registration papers absolutely did not matter to her since she just wanted her as a pet. Time went on and when we asked about the cat she was always claimed to be "fat and spayed" yet when asked for, there was always an excuse on why the proof of spay was not being produced (ie: lost, etc). Meanwhile she had only paid $100 for the cat when there was a good portion still left to be paid. Needless to say the papers were not issued and she was fine with this. A couple of years later she

called my mother and practically begged her to take one of her female dogs (I won't mention the breed), on a co-ownership in payment for the rest of the cat. We agreed and this time drew up a contract. I showed this dog to 4 points on her Championship amidst trying to deal with a poor temperament and bloodlines that I was getting bugged about by other breeders. When we got her in for her preliminary hip X-Rays at 18months old they did not pass and we were very sad to find that the dog had moderate to severe displasia. So the breeder agreed that she would take the dog back, spay her and place her in a pet home. Instead I went to the next dog show to see her finishing the dogs Championship and going on to actually "Breed" the dog repeatedly in her program as her main breeding *****. Not only that but the last show that I saw her at the female was practically limping in the ring and showing her displasia well. Well needless to say, my mother and her grew apart naturally because of the

lack of respect we developed for this breeder. Not long after this, I see ads on the internet for the breed of cat that we sold her. We were at the time the ONLY breeders of this particual kind of cat in Canada and so it was quite obvious to know that she was lying. We confronted her about it and she lied in the first few e-mails until finally she admitted and in fact built her website with her new crossbreed featured, bragging that she valued each breed separately, and not only that she then demanded the Registration papers for her cat, which we did not supply! The cat was not paid for, and was still Registered in our name. So I know this is getting long winded but of course she has made up every lie about us that you can possibly think up. I do not respond to any of her e-mails, guestbook entries, etc. Yes we have taken this to the police when she made some threatening remarks and not only that but sick remarks about my children (who are all under the age of three), she has slandered

and harrassed me now for a year and a half and I really have to wonder what I have done, except call her bluff on something dishonest she was doing.

I really in no way want to come off as being "the person who bashes the breeder", all I want is to be left alone. I am not interested in her and her breeding program of nearly 10 different breeds of dogs, nor am I interested in what she wins or loses with. I am just sick of crying and feeling helpless to this absolute harrassment over something I don't know how to fix.

Also to add, not all breeders are like this. I have very good relationships with every other breeder but her and I think it is just all in the people you choose and how smart you are when you choose them. The best part of being successful, is finding someone who can be happy for you.

oops lol, I meant to say the WORST part about being successful is finding someone who will be happy for you.

Answer 1

This is exactly the reason back yard breeders are in buisness.There is far too much of this crap going on and I think it's high time that AKC UKC and all other kennel clubs get involved and stop some of this crap and revoke registrations for unethical practices such as you've described but they won't.
The cat is still registered to your mom so call whoever it's registered with and file a complaint.Also call the police and get a lawyer to send her a demand for the return of the cat immediately.She never paid for it so it's yours.
The lack of an original contract might be a set back but at the very least you can get her on the threatening e-mails so keep saving them as well as everything else concerning this matter.

Answer 2

You had to have done something to be harrased. Explain the situation.

Blacksheep- some show breeders can be snobby but others are really just trying to protect their babes. They run into a lot of dumb people wanting pups and to breed and it can get old. Other than buying a quality pup to future breed from what other qualification do you have to breed? Why do you want to breed? What sort of actities do you do with your dogs- show, agility, ect?

edit
Blacksheep- then I see nothing wrong. Some are just very protective of their bloodlines. They want all of the gold to themselves in other words. It is breeders like them that actually hurt the breed. A breed always needs new breeders. First, because new people need to breed as the old retire. Second, if they can teach how to breed great dogs they help get better dogs in the breed. Third, there aren't enough good breeders in the world so one that is trying is always something that should be encouraged. Just forget about them and find someone else that will help mentor you.

edit
you can alter a pet before selling it. The problem is not all vets are up to date on early neutering. Some are still believe old ways that you have to wait until 6 months. Vets can do it a 6 weeks.
http://www.danesonline.com/earlyspayneuter.htm
http://www.spayusa.org/media/pdfs/prepubal_neutering.pdf

edit
To the OP- you have then done nothing wrong either. She is obviously crazy. If she is breeding dogs that have hip dysplasia, breeding over 10 breeds, and breeding the cat against the contract and w/o registration then she is a BYB. She isn't much of a breeder. You should go on your way. This is a sad story but I guess you can't do to much else seeing there were no contracts. I'm suprised that the police wouldn't do anything about the harrasement.
Good luck

Answer 3

We deal with people who are BYB's so much it seems that everyone is one. If you're not part of the "IN" crowd, your not welcome. The dog world is very close knit and we trust each other, most of the time. We don't like outsiders trying to get in. I was born into it so I'm lucky I don't have to break in. I can't imagine being a newbie and trying to get in to all this. At any rate I'm sorry I just spoke to the last poster here more than you. I have not been harassed and I don't exactly know what your getting at. I would be very interested to know what's going on. I work closely with the police, if you need info maybe I can tell you or find out..
Edit: Lith your dog IS A MUTT!!! That's why you were harassed.

Answer 4

Most of the breeders I know are pretty nice people and extremely helpful. When I began showing most of them that I met were generous with their advice and help--one guy even volunteered and showed one of my dogs for me when I had the unusually good fortune to have two dogs qualifying for a winner's class. Most are also pretty straight forward and can seem quite blunt, especially when they explain to someone why their beloved pet quality dog is an excellent pet but not good enough to breed.

Breeders are individuals. I know a couple who are real S.O.B.s. They're human so you're going to find bad and good both.

Answer 5

Why is the breeder harrassing you? You still did not state the reason why even after people asked you.

I've never been harrassed by a breeder. In fact I have a very good relationship with the breeder I purchased my shih tzu from. We email on a regular basis and she is always excited to get new pictures.

Answer 6

yes actually. I plan to breed KC/AKC (i plan to move so...) shih tzus. I asked a breeder some questions and how much for a female with a full contract. The breeder sent me an e-mail telling me that I was stupid and I should never do it and a real breeder knows all the answers to the questions I asked.

How rude....she acted like she was born knowing the answers. I asked questions like....do you prefer to buy or build your whelping box and why? Or what brand of box do you like to use? What is your design?

Surely if I was planning on being a backyard breeder, why would I pay so much for a full contract and ask so many questions? Would a backyard breeder even know what a full contract is?

EDIT:
just in case anyone wanted to know....I answered these questions....(not hard lol)

I would like to breed to improve the breed. I love this breed and I understand that they have some major health problems that need to be watched. Right now i'm trying to get my hands onto genetics books to study it as well as more shih tzu hereditary diseases.

As for activities I plan for them. Mostly KC and AKC showing. No females (I would use proper term but yahoo considers it a curse word) or males would be bred unless I and other breeders feel that they are close enough to the breed standard to be bred AND they have a good line (a dog that does not carry any major health concerns unless I for sure know it is recessive and does not show and therefor will not be bred with any dog with that gene)

Depending on the dog's personal personality will determine any other sport (s)he is entered in (agility, flyball, and all that other good stuff)

As from the breeder I purchase my first female from (i'm mostly looking at people from the shih tzu club of america....and some on AKC breeder referral) I want recommendations from other breeders. Does this person usually have good litters? How many champions came from the sir's side? What about the dam's? I have more questions but I am just too lazy to type them all out at the moment

Wow I got a two thumbs down? interesting....

I understand finding backyard breeders interested in your puppies must be harsh. Actually one of my questions on here (I deleted it because people got so silly with it) was "Is it possible to alter a puppy before given to a new owner who didn't purchase the puppy on a full AKC contract?"

anyone is welcome to answer that now lol

Answer 7

Absolutely!!!Unbelievable all I did was e-mail this person regarding a puppy for sale then I asked about its pedigree which she was claiming and OMG she went ballistic.You would not believe the things she did to me.She wrote e-mails to every breeder in my state and signed them with my e-mail address as though I wrote them .They were ridiculous,no one in their right mind would write such crazy stuff about themselves and send it out to the public.This person is a nut case and she claims to be something that she is not.She works all the free classified adds and then has a web Site with puppies continuously.She is a very wicked cruel person and has so much to hide it is pitiful.I hope no one ever has an encounter with this person.It was a horrible experience.This person would work all day on Sunday's writing these goofy letters and sending them out to breeders.Wild and crazy stuff.

Answer 8

ok yet another one more info is needed. do you have a pet from her? why is she harrassing you and how? if it's really bad call the police and file a complaint. just the thought of the authorities involved will usually cause a bad breeder to go away for fear someone might see their site and how their animals are treated.

Answer 9

No, have you? More info please.

Edit:
Are you being harassed for non-payment? Then the fault is yours - pay up. Otherwise what right does this breeder have to pursue you? If it's serious harassment you might have to file a police report.

Answer 10

Lith, that is because your dog is a MUTT.

A labradoodle is NOT a breed.