DO NOT buy a dog off Craigslist and meet the seller in a WalMart parking lot!

[Soph the vet]

Last week, I saw a young miniature Pinscher that was purchased by two very naive young adults off Craigslist. They were concerned that the dog's neuter site was "open" and said it had been neutered 5 days before.

 

Well...the dog's scotum was so swollen it looked like he had never been neutered and there were two incisions, one over each testicle, now full of granulation tissue and cellulitis - very painful.

 

This is not how you neuter a dog. Whoever did this neuter was not a vet:001_huh:! Now this dog needs a total scrotal ablation. Dogs are neutered through one prescrotal incision, for inquiring minds who want to know.

 

If you ever decide to buy a dog off the internet, please, please, please go to the seller's place and see where the dog was raised and look the animal over well before paying money for it. Preferably, DON'T buy an animal off the internet.

[Remudamom]

Poor pup.

 

We used to raise border collies, but I couldn't sell them. No one was good enough for my puppies. I ended up keeping so many I stopped!

[Twinmom]

That's just awful. Really awful. I assume you were there to see...did you say anything? Or just grieve for the poor animal?

[momofkhm]

We used to raise border collies, but I couldn't sell them. No one was good enough for my puppies. I ended up keeping so many I stopped!

 

Don't you have similar issues with selling your horses? Finding someone good enough I mean. I think it's great that you do that, btw. It shows you care about the animal.

[Tammyla]

That poor puppy.

[Melinda]

That's horrible. :(

[BamaTanya]

Good advice! I'm glad they took him to you. Poor baby.

[sleepy]

oh, how sad. poor little pup.

[momofkhm]

Last week, I saw a young miniature Pinscher that was purchased by two very naive young adults off Craigslist. They were concerned that the dog's neuter site was "open" and said it had been neutered 5 days before.

 

Well...the dog's scotum was so swollen it looked like he had never been neutered and there were two incisions, one over each testicle, now full of granulation tissue and cellulitis - very painful.

 

This is not how you neuter a dog. Whoever did this neuter was not a vet:001_huh:! Now this dog needs a total scrotal ablation. Dogs are neutered through one prescrotal incision, for inquiring minds who want to know.

 

If you ever decide to buy a dog off the internet, please, please, please go to the seller's place and see where the dog was raised and look the animal over well before paying money for it. Preferably, DON'T buy an animal off the internet.

 

That poor dog. I hope you are able to help.

[I talk to the trees]

Ack! It makes me queasy to think of someone doing that to an animal! I can't imagine anyone selling a dog over the internet, either! Ugh! Poor pup!

 

-Robin

[mysticamethyst]

That poor puppy. I am guessing that because they picked this poor thing up in a parking lot no report can be made against these fools. That must be so frustrating for you. :grouphug:

[Twinmom]

Oh, duh...not enough coffee yet...I get now that you saw him in your practice. I shouldn't try to think before latte... :o

[Scarlett]

Oh, duh...not enough coffee yet...I get now that you saw him in your practice. I shouldn't try to think before latte... :o

 

:lol:

[mommaduck]

Uhm, I know two people that breed dogs and sell via the internet...both of whom I'd rather buy from than from one of the local puppy mills. They limit their dogs, their breeding, spacing out appropriately and not breeding them too young. They document every. little. thing. with their dogs. They fly their dogs with the utmost care to the new owners. It's not the internet...you can get dogs locally that are treated like garbage, overbred, etc.

[Scarlett]

It's not the internet...you can get dogs locally that are treated like garbage, overbred, etc.

 

I think Soph's point is that you can't verify that information if you are meeting them in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

[CLHCO]

Poor puppy! That's horrible.

 

I would suggest caution when going to a stranger's home to inspect though. WalMart parking lots aren't a bad place to check out craigslist items. From what I heard, there was a woman near our town raped not long ago from someone who found her off craigslist. It's a scary world sometimes for puppies and people.

[Book Crazy]

The poor dog, I hope he is ok now.

[mommaduck]

I think Soph's point is that you can't verify that information if you are meeting them in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

 

I agree, the "meet me at walmart" would have been a huge red flag, but not the fact that it was on the internet (Craigslist, maybe). The two I know, verify everything with photos, paper records, and phone calls. All done over a period of time from birth to the time of sending the pup on his/her way.

[Peek a Boo]

Poor puppy! That's horrible.

 

I would suggest caution when going to a stranger's home to inspect though. WalMart parking lots aren't a bad place to check out craigslist items. From what I heard, there was a woman near our town raped not long ago from someone who found her off craigslist. It's a scary world sometimes for puppies and people.

 

 

I'd vote for "meet me at the vet's office. I'll pay for the visit, but I want the pup looked over well by a professional i trust first."

 

;)

[Tammyla]

:iagree: Well said, Peek!

 

I'd vote for "meet me at the vet's office. I'll pay for the visit, but I want the pup looked over well by a professional i trust first."

 

;)

[sdWTMer]

How awful! That poor puppy!

[Soph the vet]

I agree, the "meet me at walmart" would have been a huge red flag, but not the fact that it was on the internet (Craigslist, maybe). The two I know, verify everything with photos, paper records, and phone calls. All done over a period of time from birth to the time of sending the pup on his/her way.

 

You're right, I shouldn't have focused on the internet more on buying a dog from a different location other than the one they were raised in. Obviously, reputable breeders advertise on the internet and they are also welcoming to potential owners to come out to their place. That was what I meant.

 

I think Peek's idea about meeting at the vet office is excellent:D.

[astrid]

I think Soph's point is that you can't verify that information if you are meeting them in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

 

 

AND you cannot verify the home that pup is going to when you sell your puppies over the internet! Sorry, but I'm with Soph. Do your homework. VISIT the breeder. Your breeder should INSIST on meeting you. Make sure health tests are done and the results verified (CHIC, OFA, etc, CERF, PennHip, etc.)

 

Your friends may be conscientious breeders, but you learn an awful lot about a potential puppy buyer when you meet them in person. An internet connection and a paypal account does not necessarily a responsible dog owner make.

 

Just my two cents.

Astrid

[mommaduck]

You're right, I shouldn't have focused on the internet more on buying a dog from a different location other than the one they were raised in. Obviously, reputable breeders advertise on the internet and they are also welcoming to potential owners to come out to their place. That was what I meant.

 

I think Peek's idea about meeting at the vet office is excellent:D.

 

Yes, they are welcoming to potential owners. I think there may even be some communication after the sale as well. I like the idea of meeting at a vet's office.

[Kathy in MD]

Uhm, I know two people that breed dogs and sell via the internet...both of whom I'd rather buy from than from one of the local puppy mills. They limit their dogs, their breeding, spacing out appropriately and not breeding them too young. They document every. little. thing. with their dogs. They fly their dogs with the utmost care to the new owners. It's not the internet...you can get dogs locally that are treated like garbage, overbred, etc.

 

I agree, many reputable breeders sell over the internet. And fly their dogs to screened buyers, sometimes internationally. And there are ways to find those reputable breeders. It was through the internet (followed by phone contact) that I got our last 2 dogs - one a rescue and one a puppy that we hope will become a sire. Our breeder has already put us in touch with another breeder interested in his bloodlines -- all initially done on the internet.

 

But my friends went to a home to buy their pup that they later thought was a front for puppy mills. The home contained too many pups of different breeds. However the seller was reputable enough that she refunded their money when they found out the puppy was blind. My friends did keep the puppy even though the seller offered to take it back.

 

The "meet me at Walmart" would be a red flag to me.

[Kathy in MD]

AND you cannot verify the home that pup is going to when you sell your puppies over the internet! Sorry, but I'm with Soph. Do your homework. VISIT the breeder. Your breeder should INSIST on meeting you. Make sure health tests are done and the results verified (CHIC, OFA, etc, CERF, PennHip, etc.)

 

Your friends may be conscientious breeders, but you learn an awful lot about a potential puppy buyer when you meet them in person. An internet connection and a paypal account does not necessarily a responsible dog owner make.

 

Just my two cents.

Astrid

 

Unfortunately you can't always meet face to face. And even if you can, some people have only good intentions, or worse, are good liers.

 

I've never seriously contacted any breeder only through the internet. Many have intensive questionaires asking for references including a vet and/or kennel. I would assume that they insist on a phone interview after their initial screening. I know I've always contacted breeders by phone as well as internet once availability is established.

 

However I have a rare breed, so connecting breeders and buyers is more difficult than with many breeds.

[sleepy]

Just saw a similar story in the news. :sad:

[Frankie]

I'm so sorry for that puppy. Makes me angry when people are cruel to puppies. Is he going to be okay?

 

I love the idea of meeting at the vet's office. Brilliant.

 

As for buying puppies/dogs over the internet, we did. We have two of the most beautiful border collies you'll ever see. We never met the breeder or personally visited out her farm. However, we did extensive research, interviewed past customers and asked lots of questions.

 

She is an excellent breeder. We broke the cardinal rule of never buying two puppies at the same time. She okayed it only after she taught us how to do it and when we agreed to her terms. (Keep them separated 90% of the time until they're a certain age.) We were screened, and we screened her.

 

Our breeder also runs a yahoo group, so she keeps herself out there.

 

You just have to put some elbow grease into that research. I wasn't concerned I didn't see her farm because she makes clips of her puppies, their home, their training and posts them on the web. So I saw it, even though I didn't visit.

 

The end result is we have two puppies with wonderful temperaments, that the breeder guided us in choosing (not every pup is right for every family). They were flown to us, so they're even a bit worldly.

 

I don't think that was Soph's point, though. Again, I'm very sorry for the poor puppy. sigh

[mommaduck]

Frankie, excellent points...the research should be done by BOTH the breeder and the customer.

 

When I was growing up though, we always got rescued dogs (mutts mostly) or dogs that extended family members wanted to abandon but felt guilt over (poodles all from the same "family"). I can't really have a dog right now, but I have had a couple of rescued cats.

[Frankie]

Frankie, excellent points...the research should be done by BOTH the breeder and the customer.

 

When I was growing up though, we always got rescued dogs (mutts mostly) or dogs that extended family members wanted to abandon but felt guilt over (poodles all from the same "family"). I can't really have a dog right now, but I have had a couple of rescued cats.

 

 

I know this is completely off topic, but I just need to state something for my peace of mind. This is the first time we have ever purchased pure-bred dogs. Ever. We always adopted from shelters or picked up down and out dogs. One of our cats is a shelter cat, the other was a stray my husband found where he works. Our last beloved German Shepherd came from my dad, who adopted him because the owners were going to put him to sleep. Jerry proved too much for my elderly father, so we took him. He was the best dog ever, died of cancer right after Christmas, and I still miss him terribly.

 

It shouldn't matter that we actually bought dogs, but I was so concerned about the health of our new pup(s) (we originally were only going to get one) that I felt a reputable breeder was the way to go. No 100% guarantees, but odds were better. After struggling with my Jerry's cancer, I wanted the best odds.

 

Sorry, I know that was completely out of left field, but just needed to share that.

[mommaduck]

I'm glad you did share and I totally understand. We got rescued dogs growing up because it's what we could afford and figured it was also a way to help. One pup we had, we got at a year old, family was military like ours and was sent overseas. He was so depressed that he refused to eat or go outside and would just lay on his mat at the pound. The pound was considering putting him down early to prevent him from starving himself to death. Took him home, loved on him, he started eating and getting exercise...he lived out his entire life with us. I was 9yrs when we adopted him and 20yrs when he died of a stroke...that is the one dog that meant the world to me and there is none like him. I just haven't been able to find a dog that I can connect with yet...and I'm not living where we are permitted an indoor dog.

[LisaNY]

AND you cannot verify the home that pup is going to when you sell your puppies over the internet! Sorry, but I'm with Soph. Do your homework. VISIT the breeder. Your breeder should INSIST on meeting you. Make sure health tests are done and the results verified (CHIC, OFA, etc, CERF, PennHip, etc.)

 

Your friends may be conscientious breeders, but you learn an awful lot about a potential puppy buyer when you meet them in person. An internet connection and a paypal account does not necessarily a responsible dog owner make.

 

Just my two cents.

Astrid

 

I TOTALLY agree!

 

I got quite an eye-opening education last year during my search for a puppy last year. I'm sad to say that many of the breeders I spoke to were NOT reputable. I had one couple that wanted to meet me to sell me a puppy. It was a chihuahua that was just 6 weeks old. Anyone experienced with toy breeds knows that you do NOT sell a chi puppy that young. It was an instant red flag. I told the guy that it was illegal to sell a Chi puppy that young. He hung up on me.