ComplaintsforGinger's Maltese

• Initial Complaint

  02/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I first contacted this business 10/22, gave them a deposit for a female malshi puppy. I was notified the puppy was born 12/12/22 and made arrangements to pick up my puppy on 2/6/23. The breeder notified me I could pick up this puppy on 2/6 in a restaurant parking lot located in *******, **. I paid in total $2500 (including the $300 deposit). I was given a baggie of kibble and assorted toys. The puppy was very small and listless. I was getting increasingly worried about the health of this tiny dog and contacted the breeder by email. She told me to contact my vet because the dog was no longer eating or drinking. I made the first available appointment with my vet the morning of 2/8. My vet told me to take her to the emergency hospital and I did so immediately. They let me know she was severely underweight, hypoglycemic and had an open fontenelle and I would need to leave her there at least overnight. The emergency vet called me a few hours later and let me know this poor dog had passed away. I am heartbroken. I notified the breeder who promptly offered to give me another dog from the same litter. I have attempted many times to get a refund of the money I paid this woman and she has avoided me. I truly believe this business is a puppy mill. At no time was I made aware of the dogs size and health issues. If I had been notified, I would not have purchased this dog. Attached you will find all email correspondence with this breeder as well as the bills I paid to nurse this dog to health.

  Business response

  03/03/2023

  We received an inquiry to purchase a puppy from the customer. At the time we did not have any available but they made a deposit to be placed on a list for an upcoming litter. Once the puppy was born we notified the customer of birth on December 12, 2022. We had communicated back and forth with photos of the puppy. In one email, with a photo included, we stated "she was so sweet and tiny." We made arrangements for the puppy to be picked up on February 6th in *******, **. About a hour before pick up on February 6th the puppy along with the other puppies from the litter visited ************************* in *******, **. The veternarian that overlooked the puppy stated it was fine to go home and wrote in the vet report that the customer received she was "very small, had an open fontanelle, and was to feed frequently and to monitor closely for hypoglycemia." We also informed the customer via email and in person to give Forti-Cal/nutrical 3 times a day or as needed. The customer informed us that same day she "is the sweetest dog, she is fitting right in." Two days later, February 8th at 4:49 am, we recieved an email stating that the puppy is not eating and seems very weak. Also states that the puppy ate some wet food the second day(Feb 7th) but no food or water on day 3(Feb 8th). We recommended (at 7:16 am) the customer give the nutrical and water by syringe and also recommended that if she was not taking the nutrical to take to the emergency vet. At 5:01 pm we are notified by the customer that they took the puppy to the vet hospital and was recommended to stay overnight, also the vet called to inform that the puppy had died. We were heartbroken to hear the news and offered our condolences. We went beyond what our health gurrantee(a form that the customer received a copy of as well as signed one for us) offers to customers. Our health guarantee states that we will replace a puppy in case of a life threatening genetic defect. Hypoglycemia is not covered because it is preventable by keeping the puppy fed. It also says that we will not issue refunds or pay for vet bills. Initially upon the news we offered a replacement puppy, a male from the same litter. The customer informed us that they were wanting a refund of the purchase price of $2,500 and not worried of the vet bills. We agreed to pay back the refund(although no obligated by the signed contract from the customer) but could not come to an agreement on how to refund or when to meet. The customer did not follow our recommendation to take to an emergency vet. Instead took the puppy to a regular vet at 11:47 am on February 8th. The puppy had also lost weight from her vet visit on February 6th. The puppy weighed .11 on February 6th and weighed .7 on February 8th. Loosing that much weight shows it had not eaten what it should have in two days before it died. She essentially starved this poor puppy to near death before finally taking her to the vet like we recommended and told her to do at 7 Am but she took her to the regular vet at around 12 thats around 8 hours after she messaged saying that the puppy was weak.

  Customer response

  03/06/2023

   
  Complaint: 19430303
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I was met by this person in the parking lot of a restaurant and was immediately handed the dog wrapped in a blanket. At that time, she also shoved some paperwork to the person I was with. I commented that the dog was very tiny and she let me know she had seen by a vet and she was healthy to go with me. In less than 48 hours the poor dog was dead. At no time during our short interaction was I informed the puppy was hypoglycemic, underweight and had an open fontenelle. I was given a food supplement and told, without any urgency, to give it to her 3x/day. I did as I was told and urged the dog to lick the supplement from my fingertips. I received an email from them that day and she let me know "she forgot to tell me" to keep food out for her all the time. Again, I did as I was told.  When I took the puppy home she did seem listless however I chalked it up to the new environment. It is inconceivable to me that she could state that I did not do everything in my power for a puppy I just invested $2500 in and had waited since October for. It is extremely difficult to find an emergency vet to see you immediately. I saw my vet who assisted me with a referral to the emergency vet. I had been up all night trying to comfort and nurse the dog. Why, if had the chance, would I wait to have my puppy seen by a vet. As to her offer to "give" me another dog- how could I subject myself to the pain of seeing another dog, from the same litter, probably suffer and die as my puppy had? As to her offer of giving me a refund (please read the attached email of our entire correspondence) she was totally insincere and had no intention of refunding my money. She made demands and when I agreed, she would make a different demand. She then said she was withdrawing the offer. I believe this woman owns a puppy mill and I do not want her to profit from her disreputable practices.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  Business response

  03/20/2023

  Like we stated before, We received an inquiry to purchase a puppy from the customer. At the time we did not have any available but they made a deposit to be placed on a list for an upcoming litter. Once the puppy was born we notified the customer of birth on December 12, 2022. We had communicated back and forth with photos of the puppy. In one email, with a photo included, we stated "she was so sweet and tiny." We made arrangements for the puppy to be picked up on February 6th in *******, **. About a hour before pick up on February 6th the puppy along with the other puppies from the litter visited ************************* in *******, **. The veternarian that overlooked the puppy stated it was fine to go home and wrote in the vet report that the customer received she was "very small, had an open fontanelle, and was to feed frequently and to monitor closely for hypoglycemia." We also informed the customer via email and in person to give Forti-Cal/nutrical 3 times a day or as needed. The customer informed us that same day she "is the sweetest dog, she is fitting right in." Two days later, February 8th at 4:49 am, we recieved an email stating that the puppy is not eating and seems very weak. Also states that the puppy ate some wet food the second day(Feb 7th) but no food or water on day 3(Feb 8th). We recommended (at 7:16 am) the customer give the nutrical and water by syringe and also recommended that if she was not taking the nutrical to take to the emergency vet. At 5:01 pm we are notified by the customer that they took the puppy to the vet hospital and was recommended to stay overnight, also the vet called to inform that the puppy had died. We were heartbroken to hear the news and offered our condolences. We went beyond what our health gurrantee(a form that the customer received a copy of as well as signed one for us) offers to customers. Our health guarantee states that we will replace a puppy in case of a life threatening genetic defect. Hypoglycemia is not covered because it is preventable by keeping the puppy fed. It also says that we will not issue refunds or pay for vet bills. Initially upon the news we offered a replacement puppy, a male from the same litter. The customer informed us that they were wanting a refund of the purchase price of $2,500 and not worried of the vet bills. We agreed to pay back the refund(although no obligated by the signed contract from the customer) but could not come to an agreement on how to refund or when to meet. The customer did not follow our recommendation to take to an emergency vet. Instead took the puppy to a regular vet at 11:47 am on February 8th. The puppy had also lost weight from her vet visit on February 6th. The puppy weighed .11 on February 6th and weighed .7 on February 8th. Loosing that much weight shows it had not eaten what it should have in two days before it died. She essentially starved this poor puppy to near death before finally taking her to the vet like we recommended and told her to do at 7 Am but she took her to the regular vet at around 12 thats around 8 hours after she messaged saying that the puppy was weak.
  

  Customer response

  03/21/2023

   
  Complaint: 19430303
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  Gingers Maltese is clearly operating a puppy mill. They sold me a sickly, underweight, hypoglycemic puppy that died in less than 48 hours after she was handed to me in the parking lot of a restaurant. I would like to be reimbursed the initial price of the dog $2500 and all vet bills associated with the emergency care she received totaling $1,135.44 for a total due to me of $3,635.44. If this money is not received by me, I will pursue Gingers Maltese in small claims court. I do not intend to let this go.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

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