Previous owner not cooperating

Fergie07 · 07-07-2007, 03:47 PM

I just got my first dog two weeks ago. She is a sweet little Shih Tzu girl (4 months old)! The previous owner sold her to me, promising to get me the shot record and registration papers as soon as she could find them. I told her that I was concerned about her not having the papers with her, and that I didn't feel comfortable paying $300 for a dog with no papers. She insisted that she would keep in touch and wanted to do visits and updates, and she would get me the papers. She was not a breeder, but a woman that bought a puppy and couldn't commit to the time constraints.

Two weeks later, I still can't get her to look for them! She blows me off and only returns phone calls if she doesn't recognize my number. I can't get my dog into the vet for a check up or to the groomers without these darn papers! I am aware that I was stupid and should not have trusted this woman, but I am in love with my new dog. Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't want my baby to have to get a whole new round of shots. Are there any legal steps I can take?

lovemygreys · 07-07-2007, 04:19 PM

Have the dog revaccinated. Then you'll have paperwork for the groomer/boarder/whatever.

kendallj · 07-07-2007, 04:26 PM

I too was in the same situation just recently with my dog. The man I bought her from had her with him at work (he works with a group that is associated with the state that siezes dogs from homes when the owners go to jail and trains and rehomes them) he had her vaccinated and did the whole shagang, but when I called to meet him he was at work (he kept all her paperwork at home) and my time contraints would not allow him time to go there to get the paper work, he promised me he would scan them and e-mail them to me... he never did. At this point revaccination is your only choice. It won't hurt the dog in any way other than the initial prick (which they forget about in a minute or two anyhow) I know its costly (for some places) but its your dogs health here. that and revaccination is a lot cheaper than taking legal action.

peace36 · 07-07-2007, 04:57 PM

Welcome to the forum!

Shih-Tzus are one of my favorite breeds. I also have one. She is 1 yr old. Yeah, too bad but it sounds like you will have to get her re-vac. again. Like someone said she will forget about the prick in a minute or two and you can go on with life with no worries.

cvcraven · 07-07-2007, 05:30 PM

Just a quick note...Sounds like it may not be revaccinating at all. I doubt she ever did the vaccinating if she's blowing you off like that.

briteday · 07-07-2007, 06:59 PM

If you know where she lives you could try planting yourself on the doorstep, claiming you were in the area and thought she might be able to find the papers since you are there. Or if you know (or you can get it out of the first owner) who the vet might be you could call and ask them for shot history.

AKC papers...I'm sure some of the breeders around here know how to get a copy of the AKC papers. The breeder would have only registered the litter most likely, giving the first owner the info to register their own individual dogs. You would want to change the ownership on the papers anyway. And I'm sure someone will chime in here with the info for you.

Dogmom07 · 07-07-2007, 07:02 PM

I was in a similar situation when we adopted Buddy, our Beagle from a shelter. They promised to look for his medical records....ps...3 months later I still do not have them

I ended up taking him to our vet and had all of his vaccines, rabies, etc. just in case. I also started him on heartword meds, which he was aleady on, but they could not remember when he had his last pill uuuggghhh

Ginny01OT · 07-07-2007, 08:25 PM

I would start from scratch with the vet, including stool samples, etc. Then, if you had the time and energy, perhaps you could take her to small claims court--she either produces the papers she promised or you get your money back--or something like that...

gizmobaby · 07-07-2007, 09:06 PM

I'm not too sure how good it is to revaccinate your puppy within close proximity of her vaccinations. You might have to be really careful with this one......Maybe you should wait for a week and make sure your dog does NOT leave the house or is visited by any other dog and try to limit the human socialization.....And then you might have to explain to your vet what had happened and see what they think about vaccinations.

But my guess is, if she doesn't have the papers, she probably didn't even get the dog vaccinated. If anything, probably once.

animalcraker · 07-07-2007, 09:49 PM

Vaccines can be done minimal 2 weeks apart. So if you've had the dog for 2 weeks then you should be fine doing the vaccines again.

As far as legalities go you can sue her in small claims court for breach of a verbal contract, it would be nice if you had a contract in writing but I doubt that's the case. You may also want to send her a cerified letter requesting the papers before you file a lawsuit. Was this just some person that you happend to find on the street or did you know them thru friends? Do you also happen to know who the breeder is?

Tami · 07-07-2007, 11:51 PM

If you are planning to pursue this legally I would definately do what animal cracker suggested. Prior to filing in Small Claims Court I would send her a certified/return receipt letter. Document EVERYTHING in the letter from your conversation the day you got the dog, her promises to get you the paperwork, include the dates/times you called/left messages and her responses if any. Just lay it all out. Give her a set amount of time (reasonable...not like 2 days) from the day she receives the letter to have the paperwork to you and advise her that due to her past conduct if she does not comply with your request you will have no further options but to file a case in small claims court. I hope you live in the same County as she does, jurisdiction is typically where the agreement was made, so it'd be her house if you picked the dog up there.

When and if you go to Court you've layed it all out and if she objected to any of the information you had included she'd have had time to respond to you. It'll make you look better and a little more prepared in front of the Judge since you won't have any other paperwork since it was a verbal agreement.

That being said I'm not sure what going to Court will do in the end. Unless you bought a quality showdog which I can't imagine you did for $300 I don't think there is any monetary damages in her not providing the paperwork to you. Of course you'll have incurred vet costs for vacs BUT 1) she doesn't REALLY sound commited/responsible enough that I'd trust the dog was ever vaccinated in the first place..even if she turns up w/a shot schedule unless it was a copy of her vet bills w/dates, dogs name, breed, sex, age and vacs given. 2) When you wait the 2 weeks or so to make it 'safe' to give another vac incase she DID vaccinate I think the dog might be due again anyways so you would have had to spend that money regardless.

Another thing since she isn't the breeder. She may have bought the dog from a puppymill or petstore which she probably would in fact have papers. But if she bought from a responsible (or even semi responsible) breeder she may not even have papers. When I bought my dog part of the contract was it was a spay/neuter contract and I got the papers to register her after she was spayed and proof provided. One other thing IF she did have a responsible breeder involved she may, by contract, not be able to sell the dog. Their contract (assuming of course it exists) may require her to return the dog to the breeder in the event she can no longer keep the dog. If that's the case she may trying to sell the dog 'under the table' and without papers since that's her only chance to get any of her money back in the deal and not loose her entire original purchase price. So she may not HAVE papers yet or if she gave them to you w/the dog the original breeder could find out. If she's violating the original breeders contract then she'd have to answer to the breeder in Court who could say (more than you IMO) that she has financial damages due to this ladies conduct. The original breeder could have resold the dog into a performance or show home that would eventually 'promote' her stud dog or breeding program.

Just another thought.

Tami

Jen D · 07-08-2007, 07:25 AM

Did she ever tell you the name of the vet she used? I don't think that pup ever had any shots so before I take her out I would get her UTD on them. For three hundred dollars I also don't think you will ever seen papers for her. Do you love the pup and do you plan on breeding her? I would not knowing I was not going to get any background on her but if she is a pet who cares about papers! Good luck with her and i hope she has a vet visit soon.

RonE · 07-08-2007, 10:57 AM

If the dog was, in fact, vaccinated and the previous owner just can't find the documentation, she call call the vet and get copies.

The fact that she won't even do that makes me think you've been scammed.

Start from scratch, love the dog and consider the whole thing a life lesson.

Orange County Ca · 07-08-2007, 01:13 PM

Just get the shots again. The deposit was invented for this.

Fergie07 · 07-08-2007, 01:26 PM

I am going to make an appointment for the vet tomorrow. I just want her as a pet, not for breeding or show. This is my first non-fish pet as an adult so I don't know all the ins and outs. I guess they weren't kidding when they said a pet will be expensive! Thanks for all of the advice!

DogAdvocat · 07-08-2007, 06:42 PM

What I would do would be to take one last stab at it and tell the prior owner that since she can't find the paperwork, will she at least give you the name of the vet that did the vaccines so that you can get the information from that vet. Odds are she hasn't given any shots at all, but at least this would assure you that you had done everything possible to keep from over-vaccinating.

RedyreRottweilers · 07-08-2007, 06:53 PM

Vaccines are not harmless. I would have the dog titered for parvo and distemper. If immunity is good, I would not revax.

If you do not plan to show or breed this dog, registration papers don't matter a bit. The dog does not care if she has papers or not.

And everyone reading this, learn a lesson:

NEVER pay any money for a dog without a contract, and never accept delivery of a puppy without registration papers if you are buying a puppy represented as purebred.

Fergie07 · 07-08-2007, 09:54 PM

When I bought her, I was planning on just looking at her. When I saw her, I instantly loved her and couldn't walk away with out her. I went into it thinking that if the lady didn't have the paperwork, I was not going to pay for the dog. Upon meeting the woman, my horrible people reading skills kicked in, and I figured she could be trusted. I even told her I was a little apprehensive, and she assured me she would get everything for me. I had an experienced dog person go with me, and she was fooled also.

I called the vet at PetSmart (which is where she said she took her), and they will not give me any info without the lady's permission. They won't even verify treatment. I called another vet that she mentioned and they don't have record of the dog.

Her excuse is that she can't find the records since they are in the process of moving. All of her documents are in storage and she can't get to them right now. When they are settled, she will give me the info. She may indeed be busy and not be able to get them, but the poor dog shouldn't have to wait it out. I could go on and on... I am calling my vet tomorrow for an appointment.

Thanks again! This place is great!