Letters from readers:

I AM writing to ask for some advice. I have purchased a pedigree bull mastiff puppy from a breeder in my area. However, the puppy was the pick of the litter from another lady for payment of the mating as she owned the bitch.

This puppy was sold to me at eight weeks of age for $1000 as a show dog - breeding dog with NZ Kennel Club papers (which I have) to give me the option to breed or show if I chose to.

The puppy has turned out to be a cyptorchid, officially diagnosed by my vet at nine months of age. I informed the lady I purchased the dog from and she says that it is not her responsibility as she did not breed him. She was kept up to date with my pup's progress and said the other pups in the litter were the same way and that they were slow maturers.

However, she is the person I paid my $1000 for the pup. Who is responsible for this? I have paid now $413 to have him neutered but I know that some of the owners of the other pups in this litter have been reimbursed $500 for this defect.

I did not purchase him from the bitch's owner. Do I have a leg to stand on? Please point me in the right direction, I have all the documentation needed but I don't know who to ask for payment? Or even if I should ask?

Please contact me with a solution. - Leisa

Hello Leisa,
Well this is not good enough from a breeder, whether they own the sire or the dam! The woman you purchased the puppy from is just as guilty as the owner of the bitch, as it was her dog (if I am reading the letter correctly) that was the sire of this mating. As all the pups were affected I would expect that both sire and dam have at least a recessive gene for the defect, or one (or both) may have a dominant gene. It also sounds to me as if the woman who sold you the pup knew about the defect, otherwise why would she on-sell a dog that was the pick of a show litter?

I would expect the owner of the bitch and the owner of the dog to reimburse you, half each, the complete amount of the purchase price. However, you may have to claim it off the woman who sold you the pup and she will ultimately have to claim half from the owner of the bitch. If you get no joy here, do approach the kennel club and explain your position and ask their advice. They will want to know all the details and will not want defective animals to be registered under their strict criteria. The breeders may also be reprimanded as inefficient and careless.

If correspondence with the kennel club does not get you a refund of the full purchase price, then do take the matter to the small claims court. I think that the limit is about $1000, but if it is smaller, say $500, then take the breeder and seller to court separately. I think you will find that they are happy to give you a refund under those circumstances. Also, please tell both these people that I recommend they both do a little basic study on genetics as they are doing their breed no favours. - Ed