I was looking for a Shih Tzu and found COOKIES CHARMS from Brashear Texas. Frances was the breeder and I put a deposit of $100 for a female puppy. The night of December 19, Friday, she called me to tell me that the puppy had a small umbilical hernia. I didn't know much about hernias and was uneasy about getting a puppy with one but she convinced me to talk to Dr. Black first, her vet, and my vet here before making a decision. Before we hung up, I asked her If I would get my refund back if I decided not to get the puppy and she said that she'll have to ask her husband first.
Next day she called me and said that she's spoken to her her husband and that they'll just not sell me the puppy and just give me back my refund. Now I fell in love with this puppy already just from her pictures so I had asked her if she would just give me until Monday to decide because I needed to speak to the vets before I make a decision as I would really like to keep the puppy but didn't know what I was getting into. Monday, I left a message for Dr. Black and he called me back later in the afternoon. He did say that this umbilical hernia is a hereditary defect, the puppy will be okay, its' not a big deal, but she'll have to have it fixed when she gets spayed. I called my vet here in town and they said it'll cost $60 to get it fixed if I have it done at the same time as getting her spayed.
Now during all this time I've been reading a lot about this hernia and have also found that I have to watch it closely because there can be serious problems that can rarely but possibly occur. If I have to get it fixed sooner than she gets spayed, according to my vet, it'll cost a couple hundred dollars. If it was an emergency that I have to take her to a an emergency animal hospital, it'll cost a couple of thousand. (I did call the emergency hospital here in round rock to find this out).
That same day, even with the risk I mentioned above, I called Frances to tell her I would like to get the puppy, but I asked her to lower her price $60 less as this is how much it'll cost me to have it fixed. (And I do need to get it fixed according to her vet.) She refused and said she'll only take $50 off. And really it's only a $10 difference from what I'm asking vs. What she's willing to give, but, it's the principle of it, it just makes sense that the price of the puppy should go down that certain amount because that's how much it'll cost for me to get it fixed. Not to mention I will be carrying the risk that this puppy can get sick anytime (althought it's a very low risk). So, I've decided not to take the puppy. And she said that that is fine. She will be sending me my money back.
On December 27 she emailed me asking for my address for the return of my deposit and I'd given it to her. I waited and waited for my refund but still none arrived. I emailed her on January 9 to check up on it and she called me back today, January 12. She said she thinks her husband sent my refund back last Saturday, and that it was only for $50. I was surprised of course, as this is not what we talked about. She went on and on about how most breeders will not be giving me my refund at all and that I should read this and that website, and her contract. I explained to her that all those doesn't matter becaused she promised me that she'll give me my refund back with no mention of just giving me half.
I did go back to look her contract on her website again, and now there's a new addition of statements stating specifically that there can be no refund of payment for a puppy with a an umbilical hernia. But I've not taken the puppy home yet! And I'd sent that deposit not knowing that she had that. Above anything, I trusted her word. She said she'll only give me $50 off, so I refused the puppy, but I lost $50 anyway! And I don't have a puppy! She told me the $50 was for her time spent. But my time was spent too. I didn't sign up for puppy with a hernia! I had to call here and there, spent my time reading up on umbilical hernias, and got my hopes up in getting this really cute puppy.
Buyers, beware of Cookies Charms Shih Tzu.
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