I purchased a Miniature Poodle Puppy from a Local Breeder only to now discover the pedigree is fraudulent, 6 months after buying the puppy I received the Kennel Club Registration and the pedigree shows the mother as black. I was shown a white bitch as the pup's mother.
I also discovered they are bringing pups down from Yorkshire and reported my findings to the websites that they advertise on (in 5 different Surnames ), but have had no response. What should my next course of action be?
(C.H, 12 March 2009)
A.
To begin please be reassured that most breeders are good people and would not be as dishonest as you state your breeder has been. Buying puppies via websites is not to be applauded. In future go through the Kennel Club and their accredited breeder scheme. Ask to see all documents at the time of viewing a puppy and that includes the relevant health test for that breed. If you are unsure of which health checks are carried out for your chosen breed then either speak to the Kennel Club or the breed club.
Check Your Facts
To begin with you need to check your facts with the breeder who sold you the puppy. Write to him or her and ask for answers to your questions. Attach a copy of the pedigree and send the letter by recorded delivery so that you have a record that it was sent. Give the breeders time to reply (say 14 days) and make sure that your letter shows that you are going to copy it to the Kennel Club and your local trading standards office.
Official Complaint
If you are not happy with the reply, or if you do not receive one, next write to the trading standards office which can be found at your local council offices. They can stop the breeders licence to breed or trade in livestock. Also, write to the Kennel Club registration department attaching copies of any documents and also transcripts of conversations and details of visits to the kennels. The Kennel Club take a serious view of anyone who falsifies pedigree documents.
Buyer Beware
Your pet is a product – be it a living breathing product - and as such you should have researched the purchase as much as you would when buying a car or a house. No doubt by now your family has fallen in love with the puppy and wouldn’t wish to return it which is where bad breeders, such as the one you have encountered profit. By all means keep the puppy but seek compensation from the breeder and ensure that no one else falls victim to these unscrupulous people. Hopefully the Kennel Club will stop these people from breeding and registering puppies in the future.
