Just adopted a puppy... now have a dilemma. *updated*

[Mr. Lennon]

So last week we adopted the cutest damn puppy (schnoodle). I called the lady who rescued her on a Sunday. Told her we wanted to see the puppy, so we arranged to meet the next day. I call her on Monday and get no answer. She finally calls back with news that we won't be able to see the puppy. Apparently she ran into a sprinkler, really injuring her jaw. Lady says the vet said she will be OK and her jaw will just be really swollen for awhile. I told her we still want to see the puppy and we agree to meet. We finally meet her and my girlfriend falls in love instantly. The jaw looked absolutely terrible. It was all swollen and crooked. Lady says the jaw is crooked because of the swelling. I wasn't going to let her injury keep us from taking her, so we pay the $300 rehoming fee and take her home. Over the past week we start to question the ladies story. This puppy is only 8 weeks old... we have seen how fast she is capable of running. There is no way she could have gotten enough speed to damage her jaw like that.

So today we decided to get a second opinion on the injury. The vet we brought her today immediately told us that her jaw must be fractured. He took some X-Rays and sure enough he said it is fractured and that he would have to install a wire to fix it. He also said that there is no way this injury came from a sprinkler head. He said there are infected puncture wounds and that it looks like she was attacked by another dog.

So now my girlfriend and I are pissed. This whole procedure is going to cost around $700. Since the lady who sold this puppy to me is responsible for her injury, do I have a right to demand my $300 back?

*Update*
Called the seller. I told her the whole story. She was shocked that her vet didn't find the problem I told her I don't expect you to give me the $800, but I think the right thing to do in this situation is to refund me my $300. Her response: "I'm at a party right now. I'll give you a call later." Click.

*update 2*
Our poor girl started throwing up this morning. She felt really hot, would not eat and had diarrhea. Vet tells us to immediately come in to get her check. Test results show that she has Parvovirus:'(
The vet then says we had an outbreak here, so she probably got it during her jaw operation. My girlfriend and I are heart broken. I know parvo is extremely deadly to puppies. The vet says he can cure her, but we need to leave her there for 3-4 days for another $700. Has anyone here ever dealt with parvo with any of your dogs? My girlfriend and I are absolutely heart broken.

 

[Newbian]

Unless you signed something the most you could hope for is your money back but you would have to hand the puppy back over to her and even then it would be a gamble if she would accept it back as it would be your word against hers.

Also we need pics of said cute puppy, even with a messed up jaw.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Thems the breaks of animal ownership. Pay the bill, love your dog, move on with life.

 

[Farang]

You got taken, be smarter next time. Pets are worse than cars in terms of the shit people will try to pull over on you.

 

[Bignate603]

You got taken for a ride. You should have requested to take the dog to a vet to be checked out or at the very least asked to speak with the vet they took the dog to.

 

[Newbian]

One question, you said she rescued the puppy so does she go through some kind of agency / pound thing or how did you find her?

If so you can always see if the puppy was like that before she got it or report her to them to get her a bad reputation to prevent similar situations.

 

[HAL9000]

Pics.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

Got another call from the vet. He said it was much worse than he thought. He was able to align the jaw to almost 100%... but he said that we would have to see an actual surgeon to completely fix it. That procedure would cost another $2500. Luckily that isn't needed... more for aesthetics.

 

[0roo0roo]

Dog was broken, yet you paid for it anyways, you should have demanded vet bill coverage as part of the sale deal, if seller wouldn't agree you'd know whats up. you gave money to a dishonest breeder, i really doubt you'll get it back.

 

[erikistired]

$300 rehoming fee? wow. the rescue here charges half that. and that's for an animal who has been vetted. sounds like you got hosed.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

One question, you said she rescued the puppy so does she go through some kind of agency / pound thing or how did you find her?

If so you can always see if the puppy was like that before she got it or report her to them to get her a bad reputation to prevent similar situations.

I don't think she is associated with any agency. She is known as a animal lover to her friends, so she is the go to lady for any animal rescue.

Pics coming soon.

 

[ElFenix]

poor puppeh

 

[Numenorean]

What the fuck is a schnoodle?

And also, what the fuck is a $300 rehoming fee??? Bullshit if I am going to take in an animal there's no way I'm going to pay for it. If I am going to pay that much for a pet then I'll be getting one from a breeder.

 

[erikistired]

What the fuck is a schnoodle?

And also, what the fuck is a $300 rehoming fee??? Bullshit if I am going to take in an animal there's no way I'm going to pay for it. If I am going to pay that much for a pet then I'll be getting one from a breeder.

you have to remember the person fostering that animal has been feeding it, getting it spayed/neutered and in most cases making sure it's in good health. a rehoming fee is normal, but $300 seems kind of steep.

 

[Mike Gayner]

What the fuck is a schnoodle?

And also, what the fuck is a $300 rehoming fee??? Bullshit if I am going to take in an animal there's no way I'm going to pay for it. If I am going to pay that much for a pet then I'll be getting one from a breeder.

Wow you're a massive dickhole, huh? You don't think shelters etc should be compensated for housing these animals, feeding them, fixing them, finding new homes etc?

 

[Numenorean]

Wow you're a massive dickhole, huh? You don't think shelters etc should be compensated for housing these animals, feeding them, fixing them, finding new homes etc?

Nope. If that's what they want to do, that's their business. I'd gladly pay for the vet costs for any animal that I got. I'm not going to pay for food and other crap that they've already used. I'll buy it food once I get it.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

I thought the $300 was steep too. Considering all the vet bills I ASSUMED she incurred for the injury, I thought it was fair.

 

[Capt Caveman]

How did you come across this puppy? Craigslist or from an actual rescue group or just a single woman trying to do rescue? Did she provide you with the vet's paperwork that confirmed the diagnosis but also provide you with contact information to follow-up with the vet? Are you looking to return the puppy and get your $300 back or asking for the money back to help defray the costs of the surgery?

$300 is not a high adoption fee but based on the age should include a coupon for a free or discounted spaying/neutering. You should have signed an adoption agreement requiring you to alter the dog.

With any new dog, the first thing you should do is make an appt for your own vet to check the puppy out and start their immunizations. Have you contacted the rescue about the puppy?

My last dog was a rescue and within a couple of weeks he developed pneumonia and needed to be hospitalized and ended up with a vet bill of $3.5k. When I told the rescue what had happened, the rescue returned my adoption fee($300) and another $1k to help me out. I accepted the return of the adoption fee but refused the $1k. However, I have worked for the rescue group in the past and would rather they keep the other money for rescue.

 

[erikistired]

I thought the $300 was steep too. Considering all the vet bills I ASSUMED she incurred for the injury, I thought it was fair.

if that was the case i would be willing to be more flexible, but unfortunately she seems to have lied. i hope your puppy heals up okay.

 

[Capt Caveman]

What the fuck is a schnoodle?

And also, what the fuck is a $300 rehoming fee??? Bullshit if I am going to take in an animal there's no way I'm going to pay for it. If I am going to pay that much for a pet then I'll be getting one from a breeder.

Usual troll or idiot post once again.

You do realize that rescues unless they're young puppies will pay to spay/neuter, immunize and pay for any other medical costs. Many dogs that come into rescue are ill and need veterinary treatment. Transportation, food, shelter also add to the cost. $300 doesn't even cover the cost for all of this and most rescues still depend on donations to continue their mission.

 

[zinfamous]

this is almost as bad as mentioning your GF/wife/sister/mother/grandmother/cousin and not providing pics!

 

[HAL9000]

this is almost as bad as mentioning your GF/wife/sister/mother/grandmother/cousin and not providing pics!

This

 

[Mr. Lennon]

this is almost as bad as mentioning your GF/wife/sister/mother/grandmother/cousin and not providing pics!

I'll raise your request for pics to a video

http://youtu.be/ZbZ3wBqT7VM

I can't believe she was that happy with a fractured/shattered jaw.

I accept that I was totally had by this woman. It still isn't going to stop me from calling her. She most likely won't pay up, but I need to at least give her a piece of my mind.

 

[HAL9000]

Awesome. Do want.

 

[erikistired]

I'll raise your request for pics to a video

http://youtu.be/ZbZ3wBqT7VM

I can't believe she was that happy with a fractured/shattered jaw.

I accept that I was totally had by this woman. It still isn't going to stop me from calling her. She most likely won't pay up, but I need to at least give her a piece of my mind.

also take heart that she's with loving people now, who will take care of her!