ComplaintsforDebbie's Dachshunds

• Initial Complaint

  09/11/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We purchase a $1,300 long haired miniature Dachshund from *********************** from Debbies dachshunds on September 1st. Payments started August 6th 2023 after making a $300 deposit for *****. Upon pick up on September 1st 10:47am we noticed Remi aka ***** wasnt very energetic and was very tired. He did not want to play or explore he slept the whole 2 hours and 45 minutes it took us to get home. We both just assumed his lethargy and irregular eating habits were because of the big change and him being away from all his brothers and sisters. After that day we got two more days with him when he was up walking and moving around. A part of me was worried so I called ****** and let her know how he was behaving, because when we drove to see if a few times he was a little bit more active, and she told me he was healthy and fine and just needed a few days to adjust. He would go potty outside on a potty pad but always in the same spot and very highly supervised, due to the starting of potty training and having another dog. We started noticing that day that he was not feeling good so we monitored him. The next day he started to become quiet and not wanting to eat or drink anything. I called ****** She did not seem to care at all, she just demanded he be taken to get seen immediately. We did not have the money after paying her $1300 to take him to the vet the day after we got him it was a Saturday, and we were told he was extremely healthy and just needed to go to the vet on the 14th of September for his rabies vaccine. We spent $1100 at an emergency vet and he still died. ****** demanded we pay for him to get necropsyd so wed know the cause of death, we had to pull out a loan but we did to see if we had caused his death or if it was from something he was born with or contracted before pick up. The vet let us know on sep. 8th at 12:32 am that we did not cause his death and they could not see anything wrong and to let the breeder know. We paid $2,441.90 total for the dog and vet

  Business response

  09/26/2023

  In the matter referencing the sudden death of the puppy named ****, following is my response. I have raised Dachshunds for over ************************************************************************************** my care, including consistent vet care, vaccines, and overall well-being. Raising puppies is much more than a business to me as I work diligently to deliver new healthy and happy furry family members to all my customers, many of whom are repeat clients and have been for years.
  Following is my recount of the events surrounding the unfortunate death of the puppy:  
  (DAY ONE Friday, 9-1-2023)  ***** and ********************* purchased a long-haired shaded red male dachshund puppy from me. They picked him up on 9-1-2023 between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM. He appeared normal and healthy upon his departure from my home.
  (DAY THREE Sunday, 9-3-2023)  I received a text from Balee at 9:45 AM that stated the puppy was fine except for barking all night both nights. I promptly called her (as evidenced in my call history) and asked about the puppy. She said via text and on the phone that the puppy was fine and was playing, eating, and drinking, but barked all night when he was put into his kennel for the night. I told her that barking or crying at night was normal behavior for a puppy in a new home and that he might keep the barking up for a few more nights.  (printout of text history is available)
  (DAY SIX Wednesday, 9-6-2023)  At approximately 5:30 PM, ***** called saying the puppy was sick and that it had started that morning (9/6/2023)  stating he was lethargic, throwing up, and had hair in his p*** She repeated that he had hair in his p*** several times. She asked me what was wrong and what they should do. I advised her to take him to the vet, that it could be a thousand different things, and that he could have possibly eaten something he should not have.
  At 6:15 PM, Balee let me know they had arrived at the vets office and asked me to send the puppys shot information. I sent a copy of his health record and said to have her vet call if they had any questions.
  At 8:36 PM,Balee let me know the puppy was negative for Parvo and parasites, and that they would keep me updated.
  NOTE: Balees veterinarians notes from this day (Wednesday, 9/6/2023) say that the owner stated the dog started acting lethargic yesterday evening (Tuesday,9/5/2023).   The dog has had some diarrhea.   The dog had dry heaving around 4:50.   The dog has been itching himself.   The dog does like to eat dust bunnies and will chew on leaves outside. The dog has no significant medical history.
  (DAY SEVEN - Thursday, 9-7-2023)  Around 9:00 PM,Balee called me sobbing and said the puppy had passed. She asked me what they should do with him. She also asked that if they took him to the vet, could the vet bring him back. Amidst her crying, I had difficulty fully understanding her, and understood her statement to mean bring him back to life. I said no,not if the puppy is dead, but suggested she could call and talk with her vet and maybe the vet could help with proper handling of the remains for her.
  I felt awful as ***** was so upset and crying during this call, and I was devastated to hear about the puppys sudden death as I truly care about the puppies I raise and take their well-being to heart.  I did NOT suggest having a necropsy done on the puppy to her as I felt the idea of having her deceased puppy cut on by an examiner may upset her even further.
  (DAY EIGHT - Friday, 9-8-2023)  At 4:19 PM, I received a text from ***** stating that they had a gross necropsy done, and that the cause of death could not be determined.
  (DAYS NINE and TEN - Saturday, 9-9-2023 and Sunday, 9-10-2023)  I tried to call Balee on Saturday 9-9-23 and Sunday 9-10-23 to let her know my husband and I had talked it over and were considering giving her a littermate of her puppy. I was hoping to discuss options and a potential agreeable solution because quality customer service is extremely important to me.   Balee would not answer my calls and told me to text. Thus, I texted her that my husband and I were thinking about giving her another puppy.
  On Saturday 9-9-2023,***** filed a complaint with the BBB on the same day I was trying to call her to discuss the situation and let her know we were considering giving her a free puppy. I had no idea the complaint had been filed with BBB until personnel arrived at the office on Monday morning 9-11-2023 and sent me an email. ***** did not request a refund nor discuss other possible recourse with me before filing this complaint.
  ***** subsequently sent me copies of the vet bill with the vets notes and bill for necropsy and cremation along with necropsy results. In the vets notes from the examination on 9-6-2023,  it states the owner declines **** Chemistry, and radiographs. Based upon this note and review by our veterinarian, it does not appear that the necessary/customary tests were administered nor steps taken to find out what was wrong with the puppy during the initial exam so that a proper treatment could be determined.   
  If further ************* testing had been done at the time of the initial exam when the puppy was first ill, or if the puppy had been taken back to vet promptly the next morning on 9/7/2023, perhaps they may have been able to save it.   Balees vets notes also state blood glucose was borderline low normal on exam;discussed if blood sugar continued to drop that hypoglycemia can be fatal.   It seems reasonable to deduce that seeking further vet care the morning of the following day could have been life-saving as blood glucose levels are generally treatable.
  In the subsequent necropsy report from the vet, it states the following: Discussed with owners that a gross necropsy will only determine cause of death if an obvious structural problem (existed) and that a more accurate cause of death can be determined by a pathologist with a send out lab; owners firmly declined necropsy by pathologist and requested a gross necropsy only.  Based on this information, it appears not everything was done to establish the cause of death as it would have been more likely determined if they had done the pathologist-type necropsy versus the gross necropsy.
  On 9-22-2023,I took the three remaining littermates of the puppy to our veterinarian for a full examination.  Our vet has been seeing our dogs and the puppies I raise for over 23 years, and thus has in-depth knowledge of the quality care we consistently provide and of the consistent good health of our puppies.  I requested the vet perform the *** Chemistry tests on remaining littermates,which came back normal. My vet stated that if the deceased puppy had contracted any communicable disease while in my care, the littermates that the puppy was in immediate contact with would have become ill also. Furthermore, in the two to three weeks since Balees puppy left my care, the littermates remain thriving and healthy with no signs of any health issues.
  After reviewing the paperwork and treatment notes from Balees veterinarian with my vet and having the littermates checked out, we concluded that the puppy she and **** took home was in good health and was not ill when he left my house 9/1.  Upon reviewing the diagnostic and necropsy notes regarding the puppy, our vet further suggested that the death was likely the result of something toxic ingested within hours or a day or so prior to the onset of the illness.  According to Balees vets notes and her and my phone conversations, the illness started either the evening of 9/5 or the morning of 9/6, making possible ingestion 9/4 or 9/5,three to four days after the puppy left my care on 9/1.   
  The puppy known as Remi was healthy when he left my care.  After examining the information and reviewing reports, especially the fact that the puppys littermates are thriving and healthy in my care and that the tests for the communicable disease Parvo and parasites were negative, our veterinarian concurs that I am not responsible for the puppys sudden death.
  I feel terrible about what happened and that the puppy passed away, but I no longer feel comfortable giving ***** and **** another puppy as the death of the first one in their care is undetermined. 
  Anyone with questions about this unfortunate situation is free to call me at ************** to discuss further.
  
  
  

  Customer response

  09/26/2023

  Complaint: 20578933
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Regards,
  
  ***********************

  Me and my husband have both had a large variety of dogs we have raised throughout our lives and have never experienced this before. We had Remi for only 6 days in total Mrs.******. From the moment **** was in me and my husband **************** care we noticed he was lethargic and not able to get warm. Being first time dachshund parents we were concerned but assumed the symptoms were stress related. After paying the $1300 for Remi we were guaranteed full health and not another vet visit until September 14th for the last rounds of shots. When we realized **** wasnt getting any better (less than 5 days we had him) we took him immediately to the emergency vet. We tested for everything we could afford the first day at the vet on September 6th. We had pulled out a loan but by the time we had received the money for further testing **** had passed away. 

  After I had been trying to get a response from ****** the first vet trip and she didnt respond (I have the texts) I thought that was very unkind and wrong on her end. The next day **** seemed to be getting better from our point of view and we were ecstatic because it was also my husbands birthday. Just a day later we realized that was not the case and was going to take him back regardless of having the money for it, but he passed away before we could. When I called ****** she did not seemed surprised or very empathetic for someone who I believed to love these dogs. Here I am only having the puppy for 6 days and ** completely devastated and the breeder whos had him for months doesnt show very much empathy or care. That is the reason we made the BBB post, not only because of the way she reacted but with how she handled it all. Our puppy just died, the last thing I am going to do is be on my phone when I cannot even get myself out of my pillow soaked in tears. At any time if I did not answer her phone calls she could have texted me or emailed me incase I did not check my phone, I could respond to her later. 

  After ****** texted me back finally on 9/10 that her and her husband were thinking of offering me his brother. I was very sad at first and then realized how much worse I would feel if I did not take his brother, being a military family we move around a lot and I couldnt bear the thought of leaving a piece of Remi behind so I responded that I would take him. After I responded I never heard from her again. So I reached out to one of her breeders she works with to tell her what happened and to see if she could get ****** to respond. After explaining everything to her she sent me a long heartfelt message apologizing on Debbies behalf and for what had happened to our puppy. (I have all the texts and call logs) Honestly just the few texts the OTHER breeder sent me were more emphatic and caring then anything ****** ever said or responded and that also upset me and my husband. 

  After talking to the other breeder about our experience with ****** she informed me that ****** was not responding to me or my husband anymore because of the complaint we had posted. I explained to her why we felt we needed to, just by the way ****** had handled the situation and the way she still decided to handle things and the breeder understood. She assured me that ****** usually handles things differently and has always been sweet, but she would talk to her about our situation when she saw her. 
  

  Overall after talking to some other Dachshund breeders I have found, I stick by our experience and recommend another breeder in case situations like this do arise. I would never wish this upon anyone or their families. 

*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. ↩