ComplaintsforClassy Country Cockers

• Initial Complaint

  11/10/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 2/14/2021 I purchased an American Cocker Spaniel puppy from Classy Country Cockers for the amount of $2,500. On 9/17/2012 this puppy was diagnosed with several congenital liver shuts caused by a congenital abnormality affecting his liver development. I have reached out to the breeder to inform her of this and request refund for the initial cost of the puppy with no reply.

  Business response

  11/10/2021

  In regards to the complaint from ***** , this has been a problem since she arrived home with the puppy. The first week I asked her to please return my puppy as I could see this was not going to work out for her. Time went on and heard from her again that ****** the puppy had liver shunts. She notified me of this about 5-6 weeks after she notified other people via social media. Please note that prior to this the problems and conversations between us had not gone well. I can't please everyone but do my best for healthy pups. If I am treated with respect I am very willing to replace puppies and I have over my 38 years of business. When she notified me of the problem and telling me she took it upon herself to notify others, no that did not go over well. Now I have families with perfectly healthy dogs worrying their puppy may have shunts too. I feel like she was out of line on that.  She informed me she did not want another puppy as is the normal way we fix problem pups. I have a very simple agreement that all my families sign. In all my years I have never had an unhappy family. 

  She has been blocked from my email after last nasty email. I just don't want to read it or respond. 

  I've attached the agreement and this is all I have to say on this. I work so hard at what I do, environment socialization, upfront and honest. This truly saddens me. I will be sending a copy of this agreement to ***** so she may remember.

   

  I am truly upset by this, as there are so many awful places out there and I pride myself of being one of the good. 

   

  Sincerely

  ********* **** 

   

  Customer response

  11/12/2021

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  

  • I Initially reached out to ********* on 2/28/21 regarding an ear infection the puppy had simply asking how this could have been prevented moving forward and thinking it was odd since he was so young.  The ear infection had been confirmed with two lab reports by two separate veterinarians.  *********’s response was very defensive and she denied the puppy had an ear infection. 

  • On 5/3/2021 I emailed her regarding concerns with multiple incidences of aggression with the puppy starting at 8 weeks.  This puppy has bit multiple veterinarians, groomers, family members and dogs. We now know this is caused by his medical condition and diagnosis. *********’s response was very dismissive around these concerns, denying the puppy had any behavioral issues.  She was extremely condescending, saying I was insecure with my puppy rearing and stated this was a dominance issue with the puppy. At this point she did offer to take him back with no refund or exchange offered in return.  Please note, my intention was to simply inform her of his temperament for ethical breeding  purposes moving forward, not return the puppy. 

   

  • From the very start I have found *********’s communication to be completely unprofessional, rude, untrue, passive aggressive and condescending in all her correspondence regarding my legitimate concerns.
  • Stephanie did not offer to take the puppy back the first week.
  • I have not been offered another puppy and I have never stated that I would not take a replacement puppy. I have stated that I would be very hesitant to take another puppy, for good reason.
  • She has stated to me that this has in fact happened in the past with previous puppies.  
  • There is an inconsistency regarding how many years she has been in business. It has ranged from 35 years to now 38 within less than a year.  Clearly there's a discrepancy here. 
  • Upon receiving the diagnosis, ********* was immediately informed. 
  • I have never heard of a breeder not offering a customer either a refund or another puppy when being sold a terminally ill puppy caused by a congenital condition within the first year of its life. 

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩