I was sold a SICK DOG, what should I do?

Question

I bought a 6 m/o great dane puppy, July 17 from a lady in the classifieds (TX)
We brought her home, but a couple things I noticed were strange. Her temp. was high, all she did was sleep & didn't eat.
I just thought it was because she needed to get used to her new home.
August 1, I had to take her to the vet b/c she was extremely skinny & she was not coming out of the closet, all she wanted to do was lie in a place where no one could find her.
I called the lady, she was very rude to me after I told her about the situation.
I took her to the vet, he said he would keep her til Friday and run some tests on her.
Went to the vet yesterday to find out that my puppy had died from parvo & an extreme case of hook worms.
I am still really sad but at the same time angry that someone would sell me a sick dog.
What should I do?! I have called the lady 3 more times now but she ignores my calls.
My dad told me to take her to small claims court but what kind of proof do I need?
PLEASE HELP!

Answer 1

First of all, I am very sorry for the loss of your puppy. Even in a week's time, she was becoming your buddy. She was just too sick too.

Make her suffering of worms, temperature and parvo NOT happen to another one of this woman's dogs. If she has PARVO in the house - it is still there ! The pups did not get vaccinations against it because she was already 6 months old.

I am betting the woman KNEW the PUP was SICK ! Was she the only puppy for sale ? She might have wanted to keep her as a puppy miller and then dumped her on you when the pup got sick.

I am surprised you and your Dad did not react sooner to her not eating....... 2 days is enough without food...... a Great Dane pup LOVES to eat !


Did you get a contract ?

Did you have the puppy health checked within the first week?

Did you call the vet as soon as you noted her Temp was high? Record the temperatures NOW on the calendar as you took them as record.

Did you write down the day she became sick ?

I am not sure how the Law covers hookworms but if the woman does not have a veterinarian record of worming the litter, identifying the age and breed of puppy, then she is also selling you an unhealthy dog. The infestation took a while to get that heavy.,,, before you bought the pup.

1.) Seek a consultation with an attorney - the dog will be considered property or a 'product.' This way the law will upon the price and keep of the dog. If you traveled far and incurred expenses, add that on. Did you have her buried or have a bill from her burial?

You may get punitive or compensatory damages from emotional distress.


2.) Call up local TV stations that have " Investigators" for citizens complaints..... try several time to get them to cover your story BECAUSE the other puppies and dam are probably sick, too.


3.) Contact the AKC even if you did not send in the registration papers. If they are UKC, same thing. I doubt CKC (Continental Kennel Club) or any of the other useless registries will do anything.

Ask AKC or UKC to have the woman's kennel inspected and the records inspected.


4.) Did the woman tell you if she belonged to a club ?


5.) Did the woman give you the health record of the pup and give you the name of your vet ?

If not, get someone, maybe a man using a different phone number to call about her pups if she has anymore. There are ways to get at this.....

either the * attorney,*

or

the person can try to buy a pup, and say they live in the same area and want to continue to use the same vet because they don't have one...... "who do you use ?"


6.) Report the person IMMEDIATELY to the Great Dane Clubs so they can put this person on the "Black Lists" -

"Do not buy from breeders," " Do not sale to," and "Do not adopt to."

http://www.gdca.org/ AMERICA

www.gdcgd.org (Dallas, TX)
http://www.gdcgd.org/

I just had to add this page of beautiful show Great Dane photos !!!
http://www.gdcgd.org/page7.htm


http://www.hotgdc.org/ ( Heart of TX )

http://www.gdcep.org/ (El Paso, TX )



RESCUE DANES may be available in September:
http://www.gdca.org/
Notice on the Great Dane Club of America's 1st page the letter starting with :

"The GDCA Board voted at our recent meeting to allocate funds to support local rescue efforts in Washington State and Southern California to help 86+ Great Danes. This project will be coordinated by Mary Barnett-Reed, National Rescue Chairman and myself."


and NOTICE from the GDCA sites :

http://www.gdca.org/codeofethics.htm

http://www.gdca.org/before.htm

http://www.gdcep.org/



NUMBER ONE TO READ:

Questions to ask a RESPONSIBLE breeder !!!!

http://www.phouka.com/puppy/bdr_questions.html
http://www.phouka.com/puppy/bdr_ethics.html


DANE RESCUE :
http://www.danerescue.net/

Again, I am so sorry for the pup. I hate you had to learn the hard way.

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FOR * ANYONE * WANTING A NEW PUPPY or DOG

Responsible breeders are individuals who have focused their efforts on one or a select few breeds and through breeding, historical research and ongoing study, mentoring relationships, club memberships, showing, raising and training of these breeds.

They have become experts in their health, heritable defects, temperament and behavior.

Responsible breeders are well suited to educate and screen potential buyers/adopters and provide follow-up support after purchase or adoption.

Responsible breeders take lifetime responsibility for the animals they have bred.


PRACTICES FOR THE RESPONSIBLE BREEDER.

- Screens breeding stock for heritable diseases; removes affected animals from breeding program. Affected animals are altered; may be placed as pets as long as health issues are disclosed to buyers/adopters.

- Has working knowledge of genetics and generally avoids inbreeding.

- Removes aggressive animals from breeding program; alters or euthanizes them.

- Keeps breeding stock healthy and well socialized.

- Never keeps more dogs or cats than they can provide with the highest level of care, including quality food, clean water, proper shelter from heat or cold, exercise and socialization and professional veterinary care.

- Bases breeding frequency on mother’s health, age, condition and recuperative abilities.

- Does not breed too young or old animals.

- Breeds and rears dogs or cats in their home as they are considered part of the family.

- Ensures neonates are kept clean, warm, fed, vetted and with the mother until weaned; begins socialization of neonates at three weeks of age.

- Screens and counsels potential guardians; discusses positive and negative aspects of animal/breed.

- Ensures animals are weaned before placement (eight to ten weeks of age for dogs and cats).

- Complies with all applicable laws regulating breeders in their jurisdiction.

- Never sells puppies to a dealer or pet shop.

- Offers guidance and support to new guardians.

- Provides an adoption/purchase contract in plain English that spells out breeder’s responsibilities, adopter’s responsibilities, health guarantees and return policy.

- Provides accurate and reliable health, vaccination and pedigree information.

- Makes sure pet quality animals are sold on a limited registration (dogs only), spay/neuter contract or are altered before placement.

- Will take back any animal of their breeding, at any time and for any reason.

Answer 2

Did the breeder give any kind of contract or gaurantee that she was selling you a healthy puppy? Did she vaccinate or did a licensed veterinarian? The way to find out her practices would be to have a friend call asking about buying a puppy and maybe going as far as going to see them. If she says a vet vaccinated then your friend could get the name and you could verify. Illnessess in puppies follow time lines. Your vet should be able to tell you about how long the pup had hook worms and maybe even how long she had parvo. If it lines up to when she was in the breeders care then chances are good she knew the dog was sick. chances are also good that her other dogs were exposed and may have contracted the disease(s). Small claims court is definately an option, though a judge will probably ask why you didn't take the pup in for a new puppy exam when you got her. Another option is to file a complaint with the AKC. If she sold you a registered dog this means she is registered within the organization. They frown on irresponsible breeding and would probably be better able to advise you on how to proceed.

Answer 3

I'm very sorry you had this bad experience. This is typical of buying from people who are not reputable breeders. A high temperature would have sent me to the vet immediately. Dogs settling in do not run fevers! Waiting as long as you did makes it difficult to win in court. The woman could state that you did not treat the dog in a reasonable amount of time and that's why it died. In a way she's right. Parvo is treatable and survivable over 90% of the time when treated early. Waiting 2 weeks was way too long. Most puppies are too young to vaccinate against parvo until 8 weeks old and should be kept away from other dogs and the public until they've received most or all of their vaccinations. Even good breeders can have parvo sweep thru their litters although a reputable one would have probably given you money back. We routinely cleaned our shoes off with a bleach and water spray when we brought our young puppies home to avoid contamination-the breeder we bought them from required you to do so before coming into the kennels.

Your big problem here is proving that she sold you the sick dog since you failed to treat it or call the woman for more than 2 weeks. Hookworms could have been the beginning of the cause of your puppy's demise. In large numbers it can cause severe anemia (making your puppy want to sleep all the time) and might have weakend her enough that she became susceptible to the parvo virus in the area. She most likely was anemic and then eventually died from a parvo infection. If she had parvo when you got her, she would have already died. Parvo hits hard and kills relatively quickly...usually from dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea.

If you get another puppy, you need to look for a reputable breeder who shows their dogs, have OFA'd parents and can give you proper back up in way of information and support. This take time and homework! Never wait to take a puppy with a fever to the vet. Fevers are NOT normal...ever! It's a sign of illness and in puppies, it's almost always parvo or distemper.

Answer 4

You have no reason to take this breeder to court (much as you might like to and it seems to be many people's knee-jerk reaction). If the pup was fevered when you bought it, it's your own fault fisrt of all for not taking it to the vet right away. It's a hard and sad lesson for you to have learned, but you can't pin it on the breeder. She should have de-wormed him before you got him, but the responsibility for his death is ultimately yours. You should have been on the phone to her and your vet the day you realized this was going on. Waiting 2 weeks to do anything was stupid. Would you make a sick child wait that long to go to the doctor?

Every new puppy should be taken to your vet as soon as you get it for a complete check up and shots if needed. This simple step would have pointed out the worms with a fecal test, and he'd have given the pup shots to prevent the Parvo.

You shouldn't get another puppy until you are familiar with how to care for one, and signs/ symptoms of problems. Talk to your vet and read up on basic puppy care in a book or on the internet so this doesn't happen again.

Unless you have a health certification and shot record from the breeder, you have no legs to stand on in court. She knows this, that's why she's ignoring your calls (although I think she should maybe give you back half your $- depending on the details of the sale). This isn't totally her fault, so stop trying to pass around the blame and take responsibility for your own actions (or lack ofthem)

Answer 5

I am sorry for your loss.A puppy becomes a family member very fast.
We had a pup almost die from parvo.Cost over 800.00 to keep her alive.
The vet was very helpful in the lawsuit.A letter from the vet goes a long way.
Small claims court cost about 40.00 but when you win the dog seller will have to pay all cost including vet bills.
Please take them to court it is the only way to stop animal abuse.The dog should have had that shot,and worm shot before being sold to you.My puppies had all shots,wormed and given a free check up with the vet before going into a new home.Plus given the option to return with in two week time if not happy.
Some puppies don't fit in with all families.
You don't need luck on this one,just go to court.
love Nana<><

Answer 6

First off get a copy of the dogs medical records from the vet. Next ask the vet to write a letter for court, next you should document in chronological order what happened since day 1 of finding the breeder. Include all conversations with the breeder, the dogs behaviors, the vet conversations and everything else except your feelings. Those will show the day of court. Facts deal better in cases like this. Be sure to also bring your adoption contract. In the contract it should had said that the dog was physically fit and what would happen if the dog wasn't. Bring anything else the breeder gave you. Just so you know.....she will probably try to blame you because you waited about 14 days to take a lethargic, not eating and fevered dog to the vet. But just so you know.....hookworm infections can be taken care of easily but it is very hard for puppies with parvo to survive...even if you catch it early. Its a horrible disease. She probably never had the parents of the puppy vaccinated which probably means the whole litter has parvo. Be sure to get that letter from your vet! Good luck!

Answer 7

First of all, I am so sorry for your loss. I have a 2 year old Great Dane and I know how they touch your heart. Was the lady a breeder registered with the AKC? Did you get papers? Did you pay by check? That would be proof, plus the vet would give you proof. If she has a kennel license and you have papers, I think her kennel name would be on the papers.
Did she have a lot of dogs at her place? If so, did it look like their living conditions were poor. Like no shelter, no access to food and water, cramped cages, (puppy mill stuff). You could always turn her in. You may not get your money back, but you would have the satifaction of sticking it to her and saving other dogs lives.
Good luck.

Answer 8

The incubation period of parvo is 7-10 days so it sounds like the puppy got parvo after you bought it. It probably had not had any of its shots. It was probably in a weakened condition from the hookworms and more susceptble to catching something like parvo. If the pup had been sick since you got it, you should not have waited 2 weeks before taking it to the vet. If you had taken it in earlier they probably could have saved its life. I am sorry for the loss but you and the seller both share responsibility in the puppy's death.

Answer 9

"Chihuahua Mama" & "Iluvtorofl" are right, this puppy contracted the virus while under your care and ownership. The breeder should have started shots, but since parvo shots aren't required by law...there's nothing you have on her. You would most likely need a lab report and/or necropsy done. It's pointless though, because it will all come back to you. Do a search for "parvo", to understand what we're saying. Ask your vet also...he/she knows it too.

Answer 10

You waited over two weeks to go to the vet. Where do you think she got the parvo? She certainly didn't have it for the last two weeks. It only take two or three days to kill. The woman didn't sell you a sick dog. You neglected your dog and it died.

As far as worms, the dog should have been regularly wormed from birth on. Hookworms kill puppies. But if you had it that long, you should have wormed it yourself. You are really the one at fault here.

Anyone can sue anyone. But the honest truth is, the dog got parvo after you had it. You neglected to care for it properly. You neglected to worm it. It probably had hookworms when you got it, but you couldn't prove it because you neglected to provide medical care for it and the dog could have gotten them in your care. I know the truth hurts, but the dog died because of your lack of care. Not hers.