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Post by LucyHebditch on Jun 21, 2015 20:12:36 GMT
I was wondering if anyone can help me regarding a puppy I recently sold.
I sold a chihuahua puppy 6 weeks ago at 8 weeks of age. When I sold him, he had an umbilical hernia, he had this when his owners both viewed him and came to pick him up.
It's definitely an umbilical hernia as mum chewed off the cord too tight before we could get to him.
Now the new owners are kicking off as the vet has told them it will need removing.
They asked me when picking him up what it was and I told them what it was and to my knowledge it wouldn't be a problem as I had been told by the vet that a small hernia causes no issues.
She is now threatening me with legal action, where do I stand?
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Post by Philippa on Jun 22, 2015 3:51:36 GMT
Did you have the puppies vet checked prior to them being sold and did your vet pick up on the hernia (I would suspect so)??
If this is the case and your vet said to you at the time that it would cause no problem then now is the time you need to call on your vet. Either to get them to speak to the people or their vet.
Did you 'disclose' the hernia. Ie, was the puppy advertised with it and priced accordingly??? I would not expect to pay full price for a puppy with a hernia.
You've a number of choices here.
1, as a respected breeder take the puppy back, this was a known problem to you at the time of sale. (Full refund)
2, ask your vet to clarify their findings and offer to re home (no refund)
3, bury your head in the sand and wait to see if they do anything about it.
Vets look at things in different ways, your vet works for you, their vet works for them so obviously their vet is going to give them the 'worst case' scenario. Maybe the vets need to speak to each other. What is a 'small hernia' to one may not be so to the other.
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mackay
Junior Member
Posts: 90 
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Post by mackay on Jun 23, 2015 0:43:44 GMT
Offer a full refund & ask them to bring the puppy back, as long as they get a written report from their vets...you may not hear anymore..they probably love this puppy to bits..just trying it on.If you did mention the hernia at point of sale..then why have they left it so long before contacting you...
I had a little puppy with an umbilical hernia...my vet said puppy will grow but the hernia won't...I kept her back a month and just like magic, the hernia disappeared.
Inguinal hernias are more problematic but umbilical hernias are usually just more cosmetic.
Good luck...
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Post by LucyHebditch on Jun 25, 2015 18:22:23 GMT
Thank you both!
Well I thought about offering a full refund too so I may use that one! They love him very much so it's not something they'll want to do. They picked him up 8 weeks ago. So I am surprised it's been left this late.
As much as i adore my puppies and don't want them to go to the wrong homes, there is an element of 'sold as seen'. He had a hernia when they picked him up as well as asking about it, so they were in no way mislead.
If they were buying a car from a garage with a dent and saw the dent when they picked it up, then 8 weeks later decided they weren't happy, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on. But unfortunately I've been worn down and agreed to pay half. Wish I'd been a bit firmer
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Post by Philippa on Jun 25, 2015 19:14:44 GMT
I think to keep your name as a reputable breeder you are doing the morally correct thing.
I do stand by my statement that the puppy should have been sold slightly cheaper for having a 'known' fault. I also think they should have been 'made aware' rather than 'asking' it's quite different.
Anyway hope it's sorted.
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Post by LucyHebditch on Jun 25, 2015 22:19:22 GMT
I agree! I love the puppies and I certainly don't want my buyers upset.
I wouldn't have let her go without letting her know, it's not in my nature.
And I would have always been willing to contribute financially if need be but I didn't like her coming straight at me threatening legal action, it made me immediately angry and defensive as I am an honest person.
Plus having the vets conflicting eachother is irritating. But like you say, hers are working for her and mine for me, so understandable I suppose.
Thanks for the help, I feel much better and she seems to have calmed down x
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