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Should I or shouldn't i back out?

Hi there,

Would appreciate some general advice please.
A fortnight ago myself and my boyfriend went to view a puppy, fell in love, named him, and filled out this piece of paper with our address and contact details to be sent off for the microchip change of owner. It was not an official form. I had asked if it was ok to leave the puppy with the seller for a fortnight as we were on holiday the whole of last week and she was fine with it, only asking for a £50 deposit. Since then, I have got everything ready for the pup, spending over £300 on playpen, crate, beds, cleaning items, food, toys, accessories etc. I have booked his first vaccinations with a vet, arranged for a twice daily puppy sitter/walker.
The only problem is that i have heard nothing from the seller since. I have texted 4 times over the fortnight asking for the brand of food hes on so i can get the same as to not upset the pup, and how the pup is (she had promised to update me with pics). Unfortunately she has never once replied, her phone did ring once but past week constantly goes to voicemail. I have messaged her a few times on 'preloved' where the advert was (and is still up). I'm getting really nervous now as we are supposed to pick him up tomorrow, but I'm not sure if i should be making the over 2 hour each way car journey if he is no longer available?
Today I have found another seller in the other direction but still 2 hour journey who is available to view / buy / take home pup tomorrow.
What would you do? Is it wrong to pull out of the first transaction if the seller has gone essentially awol?
many thanks
«13

Comments

  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 36,165 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 4 August 2016 at 11:13AM
    Anyone who is willing to let you contact them, view a puppy and take it home, all within 24 hours is not someone you want to be buying a puppy from as it is more than likely from a puppy farm with all the issues that may entail.
    I wouldn't be driving two hours unless I was sure the person was going to be there. Do you have a receipt for your deposit? I would suggest stepping back from both and taking your time to find a reputable breeder.
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • bugslet
    bugslet Posts: 6,874 Forumite
    What elsien says.

    You are not going to find anything but a back street breeder on preloved or similar sites. At best it's what could be termed a hobby breeder, at worst, a front for puppy mill.
  • GwylimT
    GwylimT Posts: 6,530 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Both sound like back yard breeders, if the breeders are good the following will have been produced.

    Physical copies of mum and dads health tests that are breed specific
    Proof of mum and dads pedigrees
    Proof of four weeks free insurance
    At least a week supply of pups food
    Something that smells of mum eg blanket

    A responsible breeder certainly does not let a potential owner view a puo and take it home on the same day.

    Do what you want to do, but don't be surprised when your pup has general ill health and health problems associated with poor breeding if you go with either of the ones you have found.

    Good breeders have waiting lists, they also choose the owners and will turn some people away, they certainly don't have spare puppies available.
  • Thank you so much for your opinions. I think I will definitely not bother with the seller who went AWOL.Losing the £50 deposit is minor if the seller does not respond / cannot show papers / no blanket (i remember i did ask for one but again no response) / cannot or will not tell me food brand. Though i did see mum / dad who were family pets.This pup is a crossbreed Dachshund x Chihuahua so it would not have been KC registered.
    The other seller is on Pets4Homes, both mum and dad are family pets, dachshund dad is KC registered and PRA clear (i will ask to see papers), chihuahua mum isnt KC registered but is pedigree and are apparently both family pets.
    As i am not sure if the first pup has been registered to me (microchip transfer), are there any obligations / actions i need to do now that I am pulling out due to the many reasons mentioned earlier?
    many thanks
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,571 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The other seller is on Pets4Homes, both mum and dad are family pets

    You do realise that every puppy farmer will make the same claim?
  • Thank you.

    Will there be any issues if the first pup transfer of ownership has been completed already? Obviously I have no way of telling if the seller has done this already since I don't know the pups microchip number.
  • GwylimT
    GwylimT Posts: 6,530 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thank you.

    Will there be any issues if the first pup transfer of ownership has been completed already? Obviously I have no way of telling if the seller has done this already since I don't know the pups microchip number.

    No, the poor fool that buys the puppy can still change the details.
  • thorsoak
    thorsoak Posts: 7,166 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thank you so much for your opinions. I think I will definitely not bother with the seller who went AWOL.Losing the £50 deposit is minor if the seller does not respond / cannot show papers / no blanket (i remember i did ask for one but again no response) / cannot or will not tell me food brand. Though i did see mum / dad who were family pets.This pup is a crossbreed Dachshund x Chihuahua so it would not have been KC registered.
    The other seller is on Pets4Homes, both mum and dad are family pets, dachshund dad is KC registered and PRA clear (i will ask to see papers), chihuahua mum isnt KC registered but is pedigree and are apparently both family pets.
    As i am not sure if the first pup has been registered to me (microchip transfer), are there any obligations / actions i need to do now that I am pulling out due to the many reasons mentioned earlier?
    many thanks

    She won't have bothered to micro-chip and register to you!

    And like others I would be wary about the second pup - my advice to you would be to look at the Kennel Club's puppy pages - there is good advice about breeds and also lists of registered breeders who HAVE to have had all the relevant health tests before they are accepted on the KC list and who either have puppies available or puppy lists - it is http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/findapuppy/Default.aspx?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=carousel&utm_campaign=kcwebsite&gclid=CjwKEAjwz4u9B
  • Person_one
    Person_one Posts: 28,884 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 4 August 2016 at 3:02PM
    Nobody should be breeding crossbreeds deliberately without a very good reason. If crossbreed puppies are for sale/rehoming, I would expect that there will either be a very good explanation as to how an accidental mating was allowed to happen or a very convincing rationale as to why a programme of outcrossing is good for the health of the breeds involved and the research into genetics/health that has been involved in the decision.

    If its not an accidental mating, and its not a well planned outcrossing programme to improve the gene pool, then anybody selling crossbreed pups is an opportunist making money with probably very little regard for the wellbeing of the animals or the long term health of the breeds involved.
  • *Robin*
    *Robin* Posts: 3,364 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Stoptober Survivor
    edited 4 August 2016 at 3:01PM
    I have difficulty understanding why anyone would pay for a cross-bred "muttley", unless it comes from a shelter - in which case the fee / donation covers vaccinations, chip, spaying [if old enough] and a contribution to the rescue organisation's funds.

    That £50 was only the 'deposit' in this case really beggars belief - how on Earth much was OP prepared to pay for this pup, who as mentioned above will almost certainly come with a package of health issues (guaranteed to line their vet's pocket)? :(

    Follow Thorsoak's advice OP; you'll have to satisfy the breeder you can offer one of his/her puppies a good home, then expect a delay before you can collect the pup - but these precautions will be worth it in the long run.

    Can't wait? ..Go and visit your local shelter; it'll be stuffed full of adorable dogs, and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you've saved a life!
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