I just had a surreal experience with trying to adopt a Westie puppy. I went to an animal rescue shelter to adopt a 3 month old. I paid $500. After a few days of shitting everywhere, and laying in his own shit, chewing everything up (including my ducati inspection paper, making me get a new inspection), I decided to take him back. They said no return policy. So I just posted him up on craigslist to sell him. The lady called back pregnant doging and screaming about how she's going to get it confiscated and bring the police to come get him, she found the ad. Apparantly there was a term in the contract I signed that said I can't resell the dog.
So I took the ad down and called everyone back who inquired about the dog the day before. I lowered the price down to $250. The shelter lady had someone call me and pose as a buyer. She came with an older dude who I knew right away looked like a cop. He was, and they took the dog with her cursing and yelling. I was very low key and laid back. The cop said he wished I would have put up a fight so he could fight me, that I'm an asshole POS, etc. I pointed out that I just gave him a bath, with the shampoo AND CONDITIONER. The dog was treated very well, etc.
So she gets to resell the dog for another $500, making a $1k profit on him, and I don't even get my money back. Do I have legal recourse here? Surely this can't be right. I tried disupting the charges with my bank, they'll call me within a couple days to tell me their results.
### you for thinking you could actually handle that responsibity. I mean wow, three whole days you spent with the dog. And I'm just sure you spent hours with it making it comfortable and doing basic training things with it, right? You already had it signed up for training classes and you've read tons of books about how to deal with a rescue dog, right? Pets aren't cutesy little snuggle muffins there solely for your amusement. The adoption agency should not only keep your $500 they should have rolled you in the parking lot for whatever else you had on you before sicking a rabid pitbull on you. What the hell is the matter with you!?!?!
Don't breed. Ever.
sac
/has three rescue dogs
edited to remove the name calling
//one was completely feral and found on the streets of Compton
///the cop was right
Quote from: Piller on March 12, 2010, 01:23:22 PM
I just had a surreal experience with trying to adopt a Westie puppy. I went to an animal rescue shelter to adopt a 3 month old. I paid $500. After a few days of shitting everywhere, and laying in his own shit, chewing everything up (including my ducati inspection paper, making me get a new inspection), I decided to take him back.
That's what puppies do, especially ones that have been in a shelter.
Quote from: somegirl on March 12, 2010, 01:35:25 PM
That's what puppies do, especially ones that have been in a shelter.
Exactly.
Quote from: somegirl on March 12, 2010, 01:35:25 PM
That's what puppies do, especially ones that have been in a shelter.
I gotta say I'm happy to be out of the pooping on the floor days. My formerly feral dog now rings a bell to be let out. No barking, no scratching at the door. By far the best thing I've taught him. My other dog Bogart never caught on to the bell trick so he just headbutts the sliding glass door. [roll] He's lucky he's cute.
sac
actually, I read every bit of material they gave, and I did call two places to inquire about training. Dog training facilities apparantly don't typically housebreak dogs. I watched a DVD put out by science diet on how to train and housebreak the dog (with the GF complaining the entire time wanting to watch a movie). In the week we've had him, he's had three baths because he likes to shit during the night and sleep in it.
We did spend hours trying to housebreak him. Which, we would have accomplished eventually. Another very important point is he wouldn't stop jumping all over her two year old no matter how much he was disciplined for it. He scratched the kids face, etc. At the least, they should have taken him back and given the money back - perhaps a small fee for their time. No loss to them, no loss to me. As it is, they get $500, the dog, and another $500 when they sell him.
So he was very well taken care of. He eventually would have been housebroken, but the bottom line is we just didn't want to deal with a puppy who was too rambunctious, jumped all over her two year old. At least I should be able to find a home for the dog I paid for without some Nazi hunting me down. I would never have been able to find another home for the dog if I wanted to.
YOU ONLY STUCK WITH IT FOR A WEEK!! That tells the whole story right there. Please do not get another dog. Ever.
Quote from: Piller on March 12, 2010, 01:43:09 PM
. . .the bottom line is we just didn't want to deal with a puppy who was too rambunctious, jumped all over her two year old. . .
Then why the hell did you get a dog in the first place!?!?! And you violated your contract, hence you lose your money and the dog. Which is good because you deserve neither.
sac
Dude...please don't get another dog, especially a puppy. They take time to properly train, and that's something you obviously don't want to invest. They can also be frustrating, but you have to accept that and deal with it in a positive manner with training.
edit...I misunderstood.
Quote from: Piller on March 12, 2010, 01:43:09 PM
At least I should be able to find a home for the dog I paid for without some Nazi hunting me down. I would never have been able to find another home for the dog if I wanted to.
Huh? ???
Hey Sac...
I know you're upset, but calling Piller names is against the rules.
Please edit your posts or I'll have to do something that will make you hate me again.
Quote from: Piller on March 12, 2010, 01:43:09 PMAs it is, they get $500, the dog, and another $500 when they sell him.
Animal rescue shelters are non-profit. The money from adoption fees partially offsets all the expenses they have for veterinary care, food, facilities, etc.
Quote from: Triple J on March 12, 2010, 01:53:13 PM
I will agree that you should have gotten some of your money back though. I'm also surprised they had a no return policy. Most rescues I've seen make you return the dog to them if you decide you don't want it. They are interested in finding a good, long-term home for the animal.
It sounds like his contract required returning the puppy to them. It just didn't require them refunding his money.
Quote from: somegirl on March 12, 2010, 01:55:22 PM
It sounds like his contract required returning the puppy to them. It just didn't require them refunding his money.
Ya...I'm being a little slow today. :P
So what if a person makes a mistake and wants to take something back, they should get a some kind of refund within a certain time frame. As dumb as I might have been for not expecting what I should have expected, it doesn't change the fact that I couldn't give away or sell something I bought which I couldn't get a refund for.
I would think you should have received at least a partial refund...although I do not know the finances of the rescue. $500 for a rescue seems high...but it depends on the market and their expenses.
They don't want you to sell of give the dog away because it most likely would end up in a shitty home that way.
Quote from: Piller on March 12, 2010, 02:01:38 PM
So what if a person makes a mistake and wants to take something back, they should get a some kind of refund within a certain time frame. As dumb as I might have been for not expecting what I should have expected, it doesn't change the fact that I couldn't give away or sell something I bought which I couldn't get a refund for.
But it was an adoption, not a purchase, and you signed a contract.
Quote from: Triple J on March 12, 2010, 01:53:13 PM
Dude...please don't get another dog, especially a puppy. They take time to properly train, and that's something you obviously don't want to invest. They can also be frustrating, but you have to accept that and deal with it in a positive manner with training.
edit...I misunderstood.
Huh? ???
I was fully prepared to help train, feed, bathe, and walk the dog. The thing is - I learned I'd be the only one participating, especially cleaning up after him. I'd come home to him locked in the bedroom with poop everwhere. She's the one who wanted the dog, and it became clear that I'd be the only one caring for it. If I couldn't return it, then at least I should be able to sell it and get some of my $500 back. I'd never have imagined that the shelter would still have some kind of custody of the dog even though I bought it. The certaintly didn't warn me about it. Sure I guess I signed something with that in there, but they just put paper after paper in front of me to sign - paraphrasing the agrement with "oh this is just for blah blah, sign here". "This one is to say you won't abuse the dog, sign here..."
I took very good care of the dog I purchased. I love dogs, and I rescued a dog and cat before.
Quote from: Piller on March 12, 2010, 02:10:34 PM
I'd never have imagined that the shelter would still have some kind of custody of the dog even though I bought it. The certaintly didn't warn me about it. Sure I guess I signed something with that in there, but they just put paper after paper in front of me to sign - paraphrasing the agrement with "oh this is just for blah blah, sign here".
next time, read them.
wow dude, weak sauce.
one whole week?
seriously. when I got my dog as little puppy last year, I spent 3 months trying to make sure he knew to go out side, mind you, I had him for one week when my pops accidentally stepped on him and broke his leg, I here i was making sure he didn't pee on his cast, while getting him out side at 3AM in the winter with a broken leg. and that little fart was hard headed, he only wanted to pee where he wanted to pee and some times I had to walk his limping ass down the road at midnight before he would pee. neighbors must have though I was crazy, I was worried about the damn mountian lions!
only once did I ever get mad at him, when he was about 8mo old, he jumped on my bed (not allowed) then pee'd.. >:( >:(. [laugh]
its funny now, but at the time I was MAD, since it was 11pm and I was exhausted. I put him on his lead and left him out side for about a hour while I cleaned up the mess and cooled down...
If you get a dog, realize, depending on the breed, its gonna be 6 mo to a year before they know exactly what they are supposed to do and not do. if you cannot commit to that kind of work don't get a dog, and after that, its still hit or mis..
Quote from: SacDuc on March 12, 2010, 01:32:31 PM
Screw you for thinking you could actually handle that responsibity. I mean wow, three whole days you spent with the dog. And I'm just sure you spent hours with it making it comfortable and doing basic training things with it, right? You already had it signed up for training classes and you've read tons of books about how to deal with a rescue dog, right? Pets aren't cutesy little snuggle muffins there solely for your amusement, jackass. The adoption agency should not only keep your $500 they should have rolled you in the parking lot for whatever else you had on you before sicking a rabid pitbull on you. What the make the beast with two backs is the matter with you!?!?!
Don't breed. Ever.
sac
/has three rescue dogs
//one was completely feral and found on the streets of Compton
///the cop was right
wow you rescued 3 dogs! where do I send the metal of honour? Streets of Compton eh? Does that give you street cred?
The guy wanted to sell the dog to make some of his money back. He wasn't trying to profit off of the dog. He did nothing wrong to the dog. He didn't harm it or abuse it. He deserves to be attacked by a pitbull?
As for your last few sentences... you've got issues dude. Get over yourself.
Quote from: SacDuc on March 12, 2010, 01:32:31 PM
Screw you for thinking you could actually handle that responsibity. I mean wow, three whole days you spent with the dog. And I'm just sure you spent hours with it making it comfortable and doing basic training things with it, right? You already had it signed up for training classes and you've read tons of books about how to deal with a rescue dog, right? Pets aren't cutesy little snuggle muffins there solely for your amusement, jackass. The adoption agency should not only keep your $500 they should have rolled you in the parking lot for whatever else you had on you before sicking a rabid pitbull on you. What the make the beast with two backs is the matter with you!?!?!
Don't breed. Ever.
sac
/has three rescue dogs
//one was completely feral and found on the streets of Compton
///the cop was right
Wow, overreact much?
Sounds like the problem was with the SO, not the OP. She wanted the cute puppy, but not the not-so-cute puppy behavior.
I looked at getting a shelter cat last year, but with the hoops I would've had to jump through(Home visit,spay/neuter agreement, adoption paperwork, and fees, etc.), I decided to buy a cat.
I still support our local shelter, buying and dropping off food every month, and saving old papers for cage liner, but I understand the OP's point of view.
Quote from: Triple J on March 12, 2010, 02:04:42 PM
I would think you should have received at least a partial refund...although I do not know the finances of the rescue. $500 for a rescue seems high...but it depends on the market and their expenses.
They don't want you to sell of give the dog away because it most likely would end up in a shitty home that way.
I can understand covering the cost of a rescue. But they'll get that when they sell the westie again. They're getting double at my expense for making a bad decision. The only thing they're out is the time it took to sell the dog to me. I wouldn't mind paying for that, but not $500.
There are two separate issues here were talking about,
1) making a bad decision
2) no refund / no resale policies
I agree with you guys on #1, but not #2.
And I can understand it's to prevent an animal going to an abusive home... But in that case there should be a blanket law against selling animals, and a single procedure for everyone to follow when wanting to sell an animal. Or they should clearly post a "no refund" policy that also makes abundantly clear they get the dog back for free if it's not working out for you.
The dog is a very lovable dog, and he was well taken care of. That's not the issue at all, which sacduc was trying to make a case for saying I probably didn't read anything, inquire about training, etc.
[popcorn]
Read what you sign and get advice on how enforceable it is if you don't understand. I signed one of those when I adopted a cat. It said she couldn't go outside. I think she's outside right now. :) When they are able to get a judge to sign a search warrant I'll keep the cat in the house.
The dog sounds like it had three very shitty days with you (sorry couldn't resist), why should it be subject to your judgement when it comes to a new home? You obviously didn't care much where it went as long as you got some of your money back. Even after informed of what you had signed you still tried to sell the dog.
I say move on.
Quote from: hbliam on March 12, 2010, 03:09:50 PM
Read what you sign and get advice on how enforceable it is if you don't understand. I signed one of those when I adopted a cat. It said she couldn't go outside. I think she's outside right now. :) When they are able to get a judge to sign a search warrant I'll keep the cat in the house.
The dog sounds like it had three very shitty days with you (sorry couldn't resist), why should it be subject to your judgement when it comes to a new home? You obviously didn't care much where it went as long as you got some of your money back. Even after informed of what you had signed you still tried to sell the dog.
I say move on.
of course I still tried to sell it, screw them - I bought it. We had three shitty days, the dog had a blast. I tried to return it after three days, we had it a week. And I had a preference to sell the dog to this lady who seemed to really want it more than other people. I got about 20 calls with interested people. Lets not make this a "you must hate dogs" issue. I love animals, which is part of the reason I see an incredible injustice for them to get the dog back to go in a cage and ignored while it learns to sleep in its own feces until they make another $500 off it. Two of the dogs they showed had feces on their fur.
So... they're supposed to be the authority now on how to care for pets and who can sell what to who? screw them. I gave the dog three baths in a week and sat willingly with him knowing he was going to pee or poop with me there on the floor - just to train him. I could have easily just locked him in a cage somewhere and not dealt with it.
Once I saw the GF wasn't going to care for it while I was at work, etc. I thought it should be with a family who would better care for it. I didn't want to come home every day to dog poop all over my dog and clothes and floor.
Westies are known to be somewhat rambunctious, they're a high energy breed who needs a lot of attention and a lot of play time. It sounds like you or your lady may need a dog that has a much more subdued temperament, especially with a two year old in the house.
I disagree with everyone telling you to not adopt another dog in the future. There are too many dogs in shelters as it is. Find a dog with a noticeably calmer demeanor and give it a good home.
And maybe think of your lost $500 in that it's a donation for feeding and sheltering other homeless dogs.
Quote from: Piller on March 12, 2010, 03:21:10 PM
of course I still tried to sell it, screw them - I bought it.
Why are you even posting the story here? You looking for someone to validate your poor decisions?
At least we knew going in that we didn't want a puppy. I've been through the destructive, nightmarish time of puppyhood. [bang] They all look so cute in the ads. ;D We adopted an older girl with a semi sad past. She's a good dog, loved to death and spoiled rotten. But the key was to go after a good 2-5 year old dog that was mature and good natured. Not many folks want the older dogs, everyone wants a pup... until they get one! Our rescue group also had a contract but they clearly had a clause about returning the dog to them if things didn't work out. No sales allowed. I don't recall an immediate refund but I think (and my wife confirms) that they will go to great lengths to find you a more suitable pup. Plus it was only $200 and they were "fixed", chipped, and all current on shots. Sad, but it's not like there is a shortage of adoptable dogs. And it helps that they do not specialze in one breed type. If it's got four legs, a tail and goes bark they will take it in and adopt it.
I won't call you names and wish you never owned a dog, maybe just re-think what kind of pup might work better for you. [thumbsup]
Quote from: ducpainter on March 12, 2010, 01:54:29 PM
Hey Sac...
I know you're upset, but calling Piller names is against the rules.
Please edit your posts or I'll have to do something that will make you hate me again.
Sorry Mr. ducpainter. :-\
Quote from: Triple J on March 12, 2010, 02:04:42 PM
I would think you should have received at least a partial refund...although I do not know the finances of the rescue. $500 for a rescue seems high...but it depends on the market and their expenses.
They don't want you to sell of give the dog away because it most likely would end up in a shitty home that way.
We paid $800 per for two of our rescues and they both have the exact same policy that they can only be returned to the shelter if we decide to give them up. No refunds. Its like a long term lease. A lot of the better rescues are doing this now. Piller is great example of why this is becoming necessary.
sac
Quote from: Vindingo on March 12, 2010, 02:34:01 PM
wow you rescued 3 dogs! where do I send the metal of honour? Streets of Compton eh? Does that give you street cred?
The guy wanted to sell the dog to make some of his money back. He wasn't trying to profit off of the dog. He did nothing wrong to the dog. He didn't harm it or abuse it. He deserves to be attacked by a pitbull?
As for your last few sentences... you've got issues dude. Get over yourself.
Thank you for your input, that really means a lot to me that you took the for me. While I deeply consider your sound advice please do me a favor in return and look up the word "hyperbole." Just click below:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hyperbole (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hyperbole)
sac
/ [roll]
My house has always been full of animals that people I know or people that people I know know couldn't keep or handle or just plain didn't care about anymore.
From dogs, cats, iguanas etc, there is always a long pain in the ass factor to put up with and sometimes they never become perfectly well behaved but we can put up with it all. Our Akita/Pitbull has come a long way in terms but is still not exactly what I'd call a well behaved individual. [laugh] But you know what, you look her in her dopey eyes and she really wants to be good just doesn't always know how, can't turn away someone who tries. :)
Hell, my wife hasn't sent me back to the pound yet.
Quote from: SacDuc on March 12, 2010, 04:07:51 PM
Thank you for your input, that really means a lot to me that you took the for me. While I deeply consider your sound advice please do me a favor in return and look up the word "hyperbole." Just click below:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hyperbole (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hyperbole)
sac
/ [roll]
[clap] Way to back pedal and deffend your selfrighteousness. You blew a gasket about the situation for no reason, got on the guys case and acted like a... [coffee]
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z91jiu5aV5U/Sb4DF4ylOoI/AAAAAAAAIuI/PW_vIovkwyw/s400/cb750.jpg (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z91jiu5aV5U/Sb4DF4ylOoI/AAAAAAAAIuI/PW_vIovkwyw/s400/cb750.jpg)
I'm gonna ask you to edit your post too Vin.
Be careful not to fall into the same name calling trap, I know it can be hard when someone has a neative attitude.
Quote from: Vindingo on March 12, 2010, 04:53:16 PM
[clap] Way to back pedal and deffend your selfrighteousness. You blew a gasket about the situation for no reason, got on the guys case and acted like a... Just click below:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=douchebag (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=douchebag)
[thumbsup]
I back pedal from nothing I said. At all. Do I actually wish the guy bodily harm? Of course not, don't be silly. Do I feel self righteous? Well here's a guy who couldn't handle one puppy for three days and I've taken in three rescues, one of which was completely feral. So yeah, in this instance I feel a bit self righteous. I'm glad that came through in my post. By the by, I mentioned that my one dog was found on the streets of Compton not because I'm looking for "street cred" from anyone but because Compton has a huge number of stray dogs. A lot of them are pitbulls that couldn't hack it as fighters. Hard place for a puppy to try to make it. There are a lot worse problems that a puppy can have than pooping in a manner that is a tad inconvenient for its owner. Eight months later we are still working through some of his issues. But everyday he gets a little better. I can't imagine giving up on him after three days. Unless of course I had no idea how to train a dog, never had a plan for how the dog was to be cared for during the day, got the completely wrong breed of dog for my household and lifestyle, and just sort of thought it would be nice to have a puppy around because they are cute and maybe my girlfriend would stop nagging me about my new bike because I bought her kid a puppy. Then if he wasn't magically perfectly behaved after three days I guess I would have just taken him back. But only if I could get my money. If I couldn't do that I would happily sell the little mongrel off to someone I don't know despite the contract I signed because $500 is worth more than any legally binding contract and clearly I would be as qualified to find a puppy a home as an entire adoption organization who has dealt with thousands of dogs.
sac
sac
/Piller your $500 dollar donation to the shelter is tax deductible
//hope you kept the receipt
I agree, chill out folks. The guy obviously loves dogs, this didn't work out and was a mistake. He admits that. I personally think the rescue group/adoption agency is the one with the f#@ked attitude. Our group, as I said earlier, wants the dog back (no Nazi attitude) to find it a more suitable home and will work hard to find you a dog more to your (and your family's) liking. What's wrong with that? No harm no foul. They were very caring and understanding people whose only interest was to see the dogs in a happy home. Obviously it's not always a 100% match in heaven first time out. I think they should have been less Nazi and more helpful. Lots of folks adopt wild crazy dog pups when that wasn't at all what they expected. It's like picking the first woman (or man) that steps off the bus and immediately marrying them. Good luck with that. [laugh]
anyone feel the need to get the last word in before I lock this? [roll]
I'm done.
Sorry for giving you a hassle tonight ducpainter.
sac
/off to the Dogs of the DML thread.