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Just like the friendly pet store at the mall, the Internet is not the place to buy a dog. You have next to no legal protection and you are supporting the cruel and inhumane puppy mill industry.
Griselda of San Diego, CA January 24, 2009
I purchase a puppy from the Merrils which under the contract drawn up by them, guaranteed a healthy puppy. Unfortunately, the puppy turned out to be sick when she was examined by my vet the very next day after I brought her home. The Merrils refused to honor the health guarantee and Mr. Merril became irate and called my veterinarian a liar and accused her of trying to get me to pay more money. He was not willing to listen to anything I had to say. The puppy has a mass on her left thigh which will require surgery, an ear infection, and has to be treated for giardia. Since the Merrils had other puppies running together with the one I brought home, I informed him there is a possibility his other pups could be infected as well. He refused to listen and accused me of calling him a liar.
Since then, I found out the Merrils advertise on puppyfind.com. I posted a review on the puppyfind website which interestingly enough, was asked to be removed the next day by Mrs. Merril. I contacted puppyfind to ask why my honest review of my experience with the Merrills had been removed and she explained it was requested to be removed by Merril as a bashing review. They asked for proof of my claims and I promptly faxed the information to them. I am currently waiting for a response to my email verifying they recieved my information.
Please beware of these breeders. They advertise as championpups.com. If you take the time to research them and thoroughly read the print on their advertisement, you will see. Unfortunately, my husband and I went into this being very naive and we are to blame for not thoroughly informing ourselves with the seller. We basically believed what they said. The reviews posted of them are all positive. It is more than likely because they have any negative reviews removed on the claims that it is a dishonest or breeder bashing review.
So far, the pup has been with us for approximately one month and the vet bills have been extensive, not yet counting the surgery she needs to remove the mass on her left thigh. A biopsy will also have to be done to ensure it is not malignant. So far, the bills are at almost one thousand dollars and I have the vet bill receipts to prove it. It's been very stressful for all of us, although we do realize the true victim here is the pup.
Laurie of Northampton, MA January 23, 2009
I have been told the individual listed above buys puppies out of state to resell in Massachusetts for a lesser amount than reputable breeders would. But was reassured they are purchased from Top Breeders. She advertises the pups online through various FREE sites. She implies that they have been hand raised and socialised with her kids. (as far as I know she has no children and she bought these pups out of state) Kijiji is the site the pup (Shep/Rotti Mix) was being advertised on. I eventually purchased and returned him to her. She gave me her word that if pup didn't work out for any reason I would receive a full refund. I received him on 1/10/09 to try pup out. On 1/12/09 she insisted I pay her 300.00 cash. She in turn gave me not a contract but a hand written Bill of Sale and a pamphlet with supposed vet records. I purchased him to be trained as a Service Dog. I was not sure if he would make it through training but paid money in order to continue evaluation.
I had been teaching him basic commands and potty training since first day I got him, Not to mention feeding, housing and vetting him. A couple of days later the pup would not allow any type of affection and worse started showing serious aggression issues. My husband called Hazel and explained the situation and told her we wanted to return the pup. She claimed she had no idea the pup was purchased for this reason and that the pup was not hers but a friend of hers. She refused to give us the other womans phone number or address.
I must say she had been STILL advertiseing this pup the whole time I had him. She finally agreed to take him back on I believe 1/18/09. I was to agree to losing money for her to RELIST him. She relisted him for 325.00 for a couple of days and now claims she sold him for only 150.00 and is charging me 50.00 for the FREE listing. So she is planning on giving me only 100.00 of my money back and only if I sign another hand written paper stating I'd accept what ever she could sell the pup for minus 50.00 for her showing feeding and selling the pup.
I am not positive what she sold him for but she said she would have proof. I have yet to see the proof. She has Pugs on the same site. She has been advertising them since Dec'08 and still has them on today. I am questioning it because the pup I bought was last listed as 325.00. The pugs have been lowered in price and still on the site.
Only physical damange is very small bite on wrist. Money damages 300.00 for purchase of puppy, plus time put in to train dog 24/7 for more than a week. Also at least 100.00 or more lost in many purchases for puppy including a 45.00 vet bill.(clean bill of health)
John of St. Paul, MN January 9, 2009
My dog that I purchased from the above breeder on 6-15-2007 has been diagnosied with epilepsy. I have documentation from the University of Minnesota - College of Veterinary Medicine - Veterinarian Medical Center - from the leading doctor that specializes in the study of seizures in dogs. He states that this is a Genic Trait. As required by the Contract and Bill of Sale I have kept the breeder updated both verbally and via e-mail.
He went 20 days without a seizure then had one seizure a day for three days in a row (this totals about 27 seizures that we are aware of during the past 3 months). Has not had any seizures for four days. Contacted the vet to have blood work done to determine if amount of the current medication is correct. In reading the Contract and Bill of Sale and remembering our conversation on 29-Dec-2008, you mentioned that should your dog be diagnosed with epilepsy, we will gladly replace the dog should you so desire. Having talked with other breeders, they suggest that another pup from the next litter is allocated to us, but sold by you (we are not interested in another pup).
This was her response sent to me via e-mail on 07-Jan-2009: Hi John - I hope you are able to get the medication(s) adjusted so that seizures are minimal or non-existent. Most Dals that seizure have normal lifespans once things are worked out. I would again suggest that you try a grain free raw diet. Why would expect that I would want to contribute to what may well have been poor decisions on the part of owner and/or vet? You've seen the information on this issue and have already changed vets, and I did suggest a suitable vet when you purchased Bo. The cash option is if I buy back a show pup that did not turn out. You will note that is the only place cash is mentioned. The replacement option for pups that seizure is available in case it is not possible to manage or control a dog who seizures. I have no control over how people raise their dogs. I have not had a litter to sell for two years - this is NOT a money making operation here. I don't even own an adult intact bitch. Last year I spend almost 4,000.00 on a litter that contracted canine herpes (a viral illness that the dam must have already had at the time I leased her) - my beautiful pups all died between the ages of 20 & 22 days. You think having a dog with seizures is heart breaking? You ought to try watching a litter of pups die when there is absolutely nothing medical science can do for them. Sue
My response....Indeed, in the contract under Other Possible Heath Issues, states the following: should your dog be diagnosed with epilepsy, we will gladly replace the dog should you so desire. During our conversation on 12-Dec-2009, you mentioned that you would be willing to give me another pup from your next litter at which point I stated that I didn't want a second dog. Based upon this discussion and discussions with other breeders, the option detailed below seems to be the best resolve that is indeed; fair and equitable. Since this corresondence, I have not heard back from her.
I originally wanted only my purchase price back 700.00 however: now I would like to get tmoney for all vet visits, medications, and on-going care of the animal.
Jan of Virginia Beach, VA November 25, 2008
In July, we put a 500.00 deposit down for one pup for my mom, due to go home in October. My sister was going to fly from Orlando to Baltimore Airport to pick up the 10 wk old pup. In the meantime, my sister decided she also wanted a pup. So, total for 2 pups was 4 grand. Paid before she arrived in Baltimore on 10/11/08. Saturday, 10/11 the 2 pups, both female arrived in Orlando with my sister. All seemed fine.
By Tues. am my sister's pup was going in circles, breathing funny and seizing. My sister took her to the vet immed. and after 9 more seizures she was admitted to the emerg. hospital. The blood work indicated bacterial infection, source unknown. She was sedated, given phenobarbital and antibiotics IV. She remained in hospital for 2 days. She was on the antibiotics for a week. She is still on the pheno, being weaned via weight gain.
During the ordeal we were in contact with the breeder via email. For every 5 emails we sent we rec. one reply maybe. We said we wanted to return the puppy on Sat. 10/15 and exchange it for a healthy one. They said they WOULD NOT meet us at the airport and insisted the illness started after the pup arrived in Orlando. The Vet bills totalled 1,200.00. We have statements from the doctor that the incubation started prior to leaving Baltimore. They were concerned about liver shunt and ensephalitis. However, the infection has since cleared. We put a dispute on our credit card and the breeder countered by saying they signed an agreement that states in order to get a refund the pup had to be returned within 7 days and it was not.
I explained that we tried to return the pup but the breeder refused to accept it. The credit card company sided with the breeder. Needless to say, we will not allow this to end with our being out the money and being stuck with a sick pup. My mom's pup seemed fine, until a skin rash showed up this week. Here we go again. Apparently, after searching the net Teresa V. was also located in Sacramento CA and had a lot of problems with buyers there as well. So, we told them if the money was not refunded by this evening we will file a fraud complaint against them, both internet and intrastate for shipping sick animals over State lines.
The worst part - my sister wanted the pup for company because she had just gone through a divorce and her home was forclosed on in this economic mess. She no more had the extra 1200.00 than anyone else would, she had to borrow the initial puppy purchase money to begin with.
1200.00 in Vet bills so far. Puppy still on medication Peripheral care expenses.
Gabriela of Leander, TX November 21, 2008
My husband and i purchased two puppies a 5wk old Puggle and a 3mth old Boston Terrier, we paid 375 for the Puggle and 500 for Boston Terrier, gave us a discount and paid a total of 756.88 for both. the Puggle was and is in very good health, the Boston Terrier looked sick as if she were malnurished but we were told that she was healthy and had been dewormed and up to date with shots. The kids and us really liked the puppy and wanted her anyway.
upon arrival to our home after a 2hr drive back from Atascosa Tx to Leander tx, the Boston Terrier went poop and we noticed that she had diarrhea, we called Justin to seller and advised him about it, Justin told us that that was normal and to take the puppy to the vet the next day. All night that day my husband and i did not sleep due to the puppy's uncontrollable bowl movements. Early the next day we took the puppy to the vet where she was diagnosed with a serious case of Coccidia. The vet gave her Panacur 100mg/ml for 5days. The puppy got worst and refused to eat, we noticed her ears full of a black gunk which took my husband bout an hour to clean, the puppy was unable to walk and would sleep all day.
the puppy died on the early hrs of the 5th day, which was on her follow up appt. Justin was called various times and appeared to be avoiding our phone calls the warranty stated that if the puppy dies we will get a 40% discount on another puppy or he will replace it. My family has gone though so much emotional stress due to the sick puppy, our kids are devastated and all we ask is for Justin to replace the puppy or give our money back.
emotional stress on all the family specially the children who got very attached to the puppy. Due to the uncontrollable bowl movements our floors appeared to have some damage and money spent on vet bills.
Adela of Miami, FL November 18, 2008
We found this breeder through the internet and went to purchase an english dog that my son had fallen in love with. We purchased the dog, and were given only a piece of paper with vaccines on it and a business card to go to their specific vet. No health certificate was issued.
The purchase took place on Tuesday, November 1lth and the dog became ill on Friday November 14th. We took him through emergency to Knowles Animal Clinic and he has been there since. He was diagonosed with Parvo Virus yesterday November 17th.
Antoinette of Berlin, NJ October 31, 2008
I bought a puppy on 10/18/08 His ad on Kijiji states the puppies were AKC registered and up to date on shots. When I called the vet on 10/20/08 they said the puppy was never seen and scheduled for a appointment on 10/23/08. No wormings or vaccines were done prior to the sale. He wrote on a piece of paper that the second shots were due on 10/23. I called the AKC 4 different times and they said the pups were never registered at birth. The parents are registered. He said he would refund me 100 for the shots and wormings.
No refund, no shots and wormings, no registration. His ad specifies everything.
Lori of Mattawan, MI September 27, 2008
I was looking on MLive, which is an online newspaper site that advertises in many different papers in Michigan. I found a Yorkshire Terrier named Lizzie that lived with a missionary family in the above stated place. They said she was not adjusting to the heat of Nigeria and needed to find her a home in the states but wanted her to go to a good home so he was going to only make the buyer pay 200 shipping. I told him that I would pay half and he agreed. I sent him 100 on 9/24/08 and he said he would mail me the flight details as soon as he received the money. I went to bed and got up early, excited to get this puppy for my daughter's birthday.
When he did not mail me the airline plans, I called Kalamazoo/Battlecreek international airport to find out what was going on. They proceeded to tell me that animal shipments did not come into that airport and that I would have to go to Detroit Metro or Chicago O'Hare to pick up the puppy but customs would have contacted me way before hand. She told me I was being scammed and that it happens all the time to people. I wrote Harison and called his bluff and he lamented that he was a 'christian and that he would never do that. He said that he had spent ALL DAY at the airport talking to customs b/c Lizzie didn't have a crate and he needed to pay another 400.00 to ship her and that he would wait for me to western union him the money. He said that he put 150 down and all I would have to spend is an additonal 250.
I immediately wrote back to him and told him that he would be receiving no more money from me, that I had held up my end of the deal and if he was that concerned that he find a good home for Lizzie, he would find a way to get her here. I didn't hear from him for two days. Today, he wrote to me again and said that he would make sure that Lizzie gets to me. He didn't ask for any more money but I think he is trying to earn my trust back to then ask for more money. I was dumb one time but am a quick learner!
He stated that he belongs to CHRIST FOR ALL CHRISTIAN MISSIONS. I have never heard of this mission orgaization before and have been unable to locate it on the internet. I marked both of his sites on Mlive as possible scams and by the end of the day on the 24th, the maltese advertisement was no longer available and my yorkie was marked as sold. I feel like an idiot but have learned a valuable lesson at 42. I just lost 100 and a bit of my pride.
Jane Ellen Isabella of Johnstown, NY September 27, 2008
Free puppy - for a donation to HotPak Orphanage...
Transfer of 250 - no pup. Royal scam.
Athena of Lakewood, CA September 4, 2008
I was googled information on Maltese puppies and came across an add that said Free Maltese Puppy. Knew right away it had to be a scam being that Maltese go for a minimum of 800.00 USD. I proceeded to email this individual and expressed interest on this puppy. She did respond stating that she lives in New Jersey, however when she requested that I pay her 140 for shipping via Western Union to a location in Cameroon, it confirmed my doubts.
I also sent her another email from a different email account which she responded from a different email aswell, and sent me the same puppy pictures.
Fortunately I was aware of these scams and did not proceed with it.
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