BBB better business bureau
Puppy Problems with Becky's Teacup and Toy Pets
May 19, Dallas, TX — Pet lovers across the country who were eagerly looking forward to receiving "toy" and "teacup" puppies purchased from Becky's Teacup and Toy Pets in Heath, TX, were disappointed when they received sick puppies, or didn't get the puppies at all, according to complaints to the Better Business Bureau in Dallas. Some customers also allege they paid for AKC (American Kennel Club) registration papers but never received them.in addition, some complaints allege non-receipt of promised refunds, and difficulties in getting in touch with the company about problems.
Through a Web site and an online interest group, Becky's Teacup and Toy Pets sells Chihuahuas, Maltese, Malte-Poos, and other puppies. Prices range from about $500 to about $2,700, plus airfare and AKC papers.
Becky's Teacup and Toy Pets has an unsatisfactory record with the BBB serving Dallas and Northeast Texas, due to a record of unanswered complaints. During the BBB's three-year reporting period, there have been 17 complaints, all unanswered.
A woman in California states: "I purchased a puppy & shipping. The puppy came to me sick. I spent $2,700 to save her life. I also discovered that [she] sent the puppy using a certified health certificate for a different dog?"
From Pennsylvania: "I purchased a teacup Chihuahua puppy? I sent a check for the price of the puppy and airfare? She did not send the dog, she said the dog died the morning she was supposed to send it? I asked for my money back. She gave me the run around for months? And the check never came."
A Florida man and wife who used an online money transfer service to buy a teacup Chihuahua complained that Becky's "took over the amount of money for our puppy" from the deposit they placed with the online payment service. When they contacted Becky's, "she stated to us on the phone we would get the money back? Four months went by of phone calls, emails, and certified letters to her with no response."
A couple in Arlington, TX, who purchased two puppies from Becky's and also paid for AKC registration papers, complained that they didn't receive the papers. When they contacted AKC, they learned that "nothing had EVER been filed or tried to have been filed for this litter? She also stated that no breeder should sell a dog as AKC registered without having filed for papers or actually having them."
The American Kennel Club Web site notes: "Failure to get AKC 'registration papers' causes more grief for buyers of pure-bred registerable dogs than any other problem except sickness? The processing of any AKC registration item takes approximately three weeks. If a breeder is doing his paperwork in a regular, careful manner, there is ample time to obtain the necessary 'papers' from AKC prior to sale of any puppy. When 'papers' are not available at the time of delivery, it is a red-flag warning sign to exercise extreme caution."
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