About Michele Gauthier Expertise I have been showing dogs since 1957. I can answer most questions on dog shows. I have shown AKC & UKC. I can answer questions on both registries. I have also trained, taught and shown in obedience trials. I can answer questions on basic obedience training. I have owned and operated a boarding, grooming and training kennel (obedience training). And I can answer many questions on boarding and grooming. At present I breed and show and train Toy Fox Terriers. I show my toy fox terriers in UKC. I can answer questions on toy fox terriers and many questions on toy breeds, working breeds, sighthounds, and hounds in general. Working as a therapist I have also used dogs in the therapy process to improve the quality of life for patients and increase their daily living skills.
Experience I listed my eperience in the above question.
Organizations Lone Star/Louisiana Toy Fox Terrier Club, American Toy Fox Terrier Club, National Toy Fox Terrier Association. I am a former member of many all breed kennel clubs, obedience clubs, speciality clubs and American Boarding Kennel Ass.
Publications I have written in many dog club newsletters. At present I am the editor for the club paper of the Lone Star/Louisiana Toy Fox Terrier Ass. I also answer all types of questions on canines and issues that relate to them in a column.
Education/Credentials I have a degree in occupational therapy.
Awards and Honors I have been selected to serve on many all breed and speciality clubs board. I have been asked to judge several all breed and breed specific dog shows in the past. I have received recognition in the past for using dogs as a therapy media. I have won some high in trial obedience awards in the past. I have several toy fox terrier show champions and others with championship points that are now being exhibited.
Question I am having a problem with a breeder in them providing me with a couple of things I feel they should be. The first is a receipt or contract for the purchase of a Minature Dachshund puppy. At the time of the sale the owner said they misplaced there stuff but would get it to us. The second problem is information about puppy shots. The breeder hand wrote what see believed to be correct but when I e-mailed her she provided me with different information. I want to know if there is any agency that I can file a complaint with and have this breeder checked out. I wouldn't think one could breed animals as a business without some sort of ethics. This all has no bearing on my wanting the puppy but is about bad business practices of this breeder. Thank you for any information you can provide me.
Answer Hi Jim, there is really no one who can solve your problem or who you can report your problem too.
You failed to tell me what the contract was about. And that would help me a lot more. If it was a health contract do you actually think that this person is going to stand up to their end of the contract if she won't even send you the contract. So that is kind of a moot point. If she didn't promise you a health contract then she doesn't owe you one. You mentioned a receipt. Do you mean the receipt for the dog?? If you paid by check that should be your receipt. If you paid by cash well you have the dog and I doubt she will come get the dog back. Also if you have registration papers on the dog the reg. papers also will act as a type of receipt. I don't really understand how at the time of sale the breeder could have lost a receipt book all you had to do then was ask her to write on a piece of paper how much you gave to her as far as monies and what you bought and sign and date it and that would have been your receipt. If she misplaced the contract and you didn't get it at the time of sale that is your bad, because you are probably dealing with a breeder that is less than effective.
On the puppy shots your puppy should have been vaccinated at 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks and again at 16 weeks. And at 12 weeks or 16 weeks your puppy should have been given a rabies vaccination. If you phoned her and she gave you a different vaccination schedule just phone her back and tell her that she told you something else at another time. She might have made a mistake and confused your puppy with another litter of puppies. But the vaccinations aren't really a problem. You didn't mention how old your puppy was, but you can take your puppy to the vet right now and get him or her vaccinated and you won't have to start the vaccinations already from the beginning at all. So first contact the breeder and tell her about the confusion on the vaccinations and see if she will look it back up for you and resolve that problem. Then while you are on the phone with her tell her you want your contract/receipt and see what she says to you. And instead of having her mail things to you just go by her house and pick it up.
There isn't anyone who you can complain too or file a complaint with as I stated to you before. Because a breeder does NOT have to provide you with a contract and #2 a breeder doesn't have to provide you with a vaccination record either. In fact a breeder doesn't even have to sell you a vaccinated puppy. All the breeder has to do is provide you with a puppy (hopefully healthy) and the registration papers (depending on the registry). If you buy another puppy do some investigation on your breeder before you buy and don't just buy from someone who advertises in the newspaper etc. Talk to your vet and get some reccommendations.
Hope I have helped you just a little and I am sorry you had these problems. But the best way to try and solve them is to try and deal with the breeder. And be easy to get along with because she is holding all the cards. Going to court etc. like some people do costs a lot of money and usually solves very litte. It always looks good on TV but doesn't work the same in real life courts. Thanks for your question. Again I know this is frustrating to you, and I hope you can get things worked out with her. If you have more questions just re-ask and I will be happy to help you. If you can tell me about what type of contract/receipt you want and it isn't what I think I will be happy to answer you about that when you explain more. Have a nice evening. Michele
